Re: Fw: GPL / LGPL

I recently asked MySQL directly about a similar question. The MySQL 
server itself is GPL, and the server also can be compiled as a library 
that can be directly linked with other code. The 'connectors', ie the 
drivers which manage a connection to MySQL are also GPL, which means 
that any application that you write that either links with the library 
version of the server or any of the drivers they provide must also be 
GPL, *unless* you purchase their commercial license. This also means 
that if you write your own connector which handles a network connection 
to the MySQL server, you do not need your code to be GPL nor purchase a 
commercial license, as your code doesn't link with anything GPL.

The hitch with GPL is that anything that links to it must also be GPL. 
It is a violation of the license to link and LGPL code with GPL code. 
(Of course, if you're the author, you're allowed to do that, because 
you're the only person who can sue yourself). Linking Bob's proprietary 
code with Alice's LGPL code which links with Alice's GPL code is a clear 
violation. The only way you can use a GPL database server with 
proprietary code is through a network connection.

Hence, if the product that Christian Meranda is working on would require 
linking to GPL code (within the same application space) and this code is 
to be redistributed under the GPL, all is good. But, if they want to 
resell a commercial license for their clients to use their product which 
includes Ozone GPL code, that's obviously a violation, because Christian 
Merenda is distributing his work under a different license which links 
to GPL code and the GPL doesn't allow that. The only solution here is if 
Ozone itself would be distributed under a different license.

In my opinion, if Christian Merenda wants to sell his work which relies 
on Ozone being in the same application space, aren't Ozone developpers 
entitled to some share of the funds? (ie, make a commercial license 
scheme for Ozone).

-kai

(btw, I'm not an Ozone dev, I'm just thinking out loud :) )

Gerd Mueller wrote:

>Begin forwarded message:
>
>Date: Sun, 12 Jun 2005 17:25:14 +0200
>From: "Christian Merenda" <[email protected]>
>To: <[email protected]>
>Subject: GPL / LGPL
>
>
>Dear sir / madam,
> 
>on your website  <http://www.ozone-db.org/> www.ozone-db.org you have to
>licenses _Ozone Library License_ and _Ozone Core License_. The first is
>essentially based on the LGPL, the second one on the GPL.
> 
>So I do not understand which license is the right one or better to say:
>Which license corresponds to which part of the database system?
> 
>If you_re restraining the core to the GPL, ozone would be no option for
>everybody who plans to distribute a commercial and proprietary
>application.
> 
>In our special case, we have developed a very smart object-oriented
>database metamodel and API, which could be implemented on top of
>different back-ends. We_ve done already for JBoss and Ozone is another
>option for us. As our model-driven architecture approach is extremely
>powerful and complemented with a best-of-class IDE it could give Ozone a
>boost in widespread application.
> 
>We_re strongly contributed to Open Source and we_re planning to give our
>work back to the Open Source Community under the GPL. So it_s absolutely
>free to use in the Open Source Environment. Additionally we will offer a
>proprietary, commercial license for the rest of the industrie. Can we do
>this with Ozone in the back-end? Do you offer the product under the
>LGPL?
> 
>Additionally it could be interesting for you to tightly integrate Ozone
>with our product. If we work together, we can squeeze out the maximum
>amount of performance of an ODBMS with the highest level of abstraction
>ever seen on the market. What do you think about this?
> 
>Best regards,
>Christian Merenda
> 
>----------------------------
>Christian Merenda
>Franz-Joseph-Str. 7
>80801 München
> 
>Tel.: 0 89/82 90 97-17
>Fax: 0 89/82 90 97-18
>E-Mail:  <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected]
>Web:  <http://www.merenda.de> www.merenda.de
> 
> 
>
>
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------
>Gerd Mueller                                    [email protected]     
>SMB GmbH                                  http://www.smb-tec.com
>
>
>!DSPAM:42ad353e230183574914120!
>  
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Dear sir / madam,
>
> on your website www.ozone-db.org <http://www.ozone-db.org/> you have 
> to licenses „Ozone Library License” and „Ozone Core License“. The 
> first is essentially based on the LGPL, the second one on the GPL.
>
> So I do not understand which license is the right one or better to 
> say: Which license corresponds to which part of the database system?
>
> If you’re restraining the core to the GPL, ozone would be no option 
> for everybody who plans to distribute a commercial and proprietary 
> application.
>
> In our special case, we have developed a very smart object-oriented 
> database metamodel and API, which could be implemented on top of 
> different back-ends. We´ve done already for JBoss and Ozone is another 
> option for us. As our model-driven architecture approach is extremely 
> powerful and complemented with a best-of-class IDE it could give Ozone 
> a boost in widespread application.
>
> We´re strongly contributed to Open Source and we´re planning to give 
> our work back to the Open Source Community under the GPL. So it´s 
> absolutely free to use in the Open Source Environment. Additionally we 
> will offer a proprietary, commercial license for the rest of the 
> industrie. Can we do this with Ozone in the back-end? Do you offer the 
> product under the LGPL?
>
> Additionally it could be interesting for you to tightly integrate 
> Ozone with our product. If we work together, we can squeeze out the 
> maximum amount of performance of an ODBMS with the highest level of 
> abstraction ever seen on the market. What do you think about this?
>
> Best regards,
>
> Christian Merenda
>
> ----------------------------
>
> Christian Merenda
>
> Franz-Joseph-Str. 7
>
> 80801 München
>
> Tel.: 0 89/82 90 97-17
>
> Fax: 0 89/82 90 97-18
>
> E-Mail: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
>
> Web: www.merenda.de <http://www.merenda.de>
>



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