tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16959946.post3133664154208891208..comments2023-12-09T16:44:47.897+01:00Comments on The Data Charmer: Protocol, the GPL, and how Bazaar can helpGiuseppe Maxiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15801583338057324813noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16959946.post-63577051124375482282010-03-17T22:25:42.346+01:002010-03-17T22:25:42.346+01:00A clarification:
"GPL affects you over the p...A clarification:<br /><br />"GPL affects you over the protocol" and "protocol itself can be GPL" are two different statements.<br /><br />I never claimed the first one, but I have stated the second one (in the code), as a clarification recommended by RMS.Montyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06049512911785594864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16959946.post-59964367397021862422010-03-17T22:03:39.523+01:002010-03-17T22:03:39.523+01:00The comment in net_serv.cc doesn't say that th...The comment in net_serv.cc doesn't say that the GPL is affected by TCP/IP.<br /><br />As far as I remember, the comment was added, based on a recommendation from Richard Stallman, to clarify that the MySQL server and client is, from MySQL AB's point of view, one piece of work.<br /><br />My viewpoint is, as I have always maintained, that if your application require MySQL to work<br />(in spite of the license of the client library) it will be affected by the GPL (if you distribute it) as the whole (application + MySQL) is a derived work of MySQL.<br /><br />This is also what RMS/FSF has told me how they view things.Montyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06049512911785594864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16959946.post-82342704247035922952010-03-17T12:18:09.992+01:002010-03-17T12:18:09.992+01:00Heh. Thanks for digging it up, I kind of suspected...Heh. Thanks for digging it up, I kind of suspected this would be the case. (SinceI think it is safe to assume that Monty uses the word "never" a bit liberally here :-)<br /><br />It seems Monty has historically had at least a couple of approaches to define how the GPL jumps from the server to the application. 1) The "proprietary, nonpublic protocol", 2) if you distribute the server, and 3) if you "depend" on MySQL such as by MySQL-specific sql. <br /><br />I remember Monty has mentioned that early MySQL AB historically did do something like #1, so I think your bzr investigation here is close to the truth. (But I would have expected the dates to be earlier, somewhere around 2000-2001?)<br /><br />MySQL AB on the other hand ended up relying solely on the license of the client libraries. This is well documented with all the FOSS exceptions, MECA program for ISVs, etc. This is of course a much more solid and well established way of interpreting the GPL.<br /><br />henrik<br />(I'm taking advantage here of our company rule that explicitly allows me to take part in public discussion even if my boss might not like it :-)hingohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09201666166374161923noreply@blogger.com