Posted on 4 Comments

MySQL Licenses – Perception and Reality

Perception and reality don’t always converge with users when it comes to MySQL licensing, even with Sun/MySQL focusing on selling its MySQL Enterprise support subscriptions. Just today I was talking with a client who thought that to get a MySQL Enterprise subscription, it was required to purchase licenses.

Not true. Simple. They hadn’t talked with a MySQL sales person, so this wasn’t the (usual 😉 warping of reality that I tend to see, but somehow perusing the information on the net they’d come to the above conclusion. Easy to dispell once understood, but much more complicated (if not impossible) to figure out how they came to that conclusion in the first place….

They also didn’t realise that the MySQL Enterprise binaries are also GPL. Ohwell.

But really, nobody wants to care about licensing, it’s this necessary evil that you have to deal with. Best to keep it simple, or even better, make it a non-issue! MySQL’s subscription model was intended to do just that. Didn’t quite work out that way – but I do believe the intent was good at least in that respect.

Posted on 4 Comments

4 thoughts on “MySQL Licenses – Perception and Reality

  1. The perception is based on what they find on the website. The download link brings you to a side by side comparison of Community and enterprise. Their is no mention of the gpl on either side, but they enterprise version is listed at $595/server/year with an option for a free trial. The community version just has a download link.

  2. Yes, definitely. Mysql (the company) has always tried to confuse the issue about the GPL license on mysql (the software). They just barely avoid explicitly stating it, but they hint very strongly that you MUST buy a commercial license of Mysql if you’re using it for any commercial purpose. The impression they give is that the GPL version is *ONLY* for non-profit use and community projects.

    It’s one of the major reasons why I’ve always distrusted them – i don’t like dishonesty and deception.

  3. Where do we find a statement by MySQL AB on the licensing of MySQL? I came to your journal from your posts in the MySQL Licensing Forum, the only post that seems to come from MySQL AB has broken links to the licensing info.

    To me, caring about licensing is showing respect to the wishes of the people that developed the software. The most common ‘warping of reality’ I’ve seem is the idea that MySQL is free as in free beer.

    cheers,

  4. I honestly don’t think you will. I used to do “licensing clarifications” as part of my Community Relations work at MySQL. There are some good articles on dev.mysql.com, such as http://dev.mysql.com/tech-resources/articles/mysql-network-and-you.html
    I got a lot of push-back from MySQL sales on this article and other initiatives, although MySQL Marketing was supportive of the clearer message.

    The fuzzyness helps sales, although IMHO it’s not the right way to do things.
    I might write up something on the Open Query site, however if a statement from MySQL AB is what you’re looking for…. I don’t know. You could ask Kaj Arno (VP Community).

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