[Qt-interest] mysql, windows and odbc

[Christopher Rasch-Olsen Raa]

On Thursday 08 October 2009 07:36:15 André Somers wrote:
> -----Oorspronkelijk bericht-----
> Van: qt-interest-bounces at trolltech.com
> [mailto:qt-interest-bounces at trolltech.com] Namens Sandro Cavazzoni
> Verzonden: woensdag 7 oktober 2009 15:36
> Aan: qt-interest at trolltech.com
> Onderwerp: [Qt-interest] mysql, windows and odbc
> 
> 
> I'm not using native MYSQL driver because, i suppose, compiling it in my
> application i'll broke LGPL license (mysql is GPL). So i'm using the
> integrated standard ODBC connection and i've installed MYSQL ODBC
> CONNECTOR on my OS. In this way, i suppose, i don't broke any LGPL
> license with my application (someone could confirm it?).
> 
> This is not something to just "suppose" about. Look into this, because it
> would be a much better solution to use MySql directly instead of going
> through ODBC. AFAIK, you *are* allowed to use MySql in a GPL-ed
>  application. Actually, you are allowed to link to MySql code even from a
>  closed source application. You can not just embed code from MySql, but
>  that is not what you are doing when you compile and link the database
>  driver.

Recently when consulting a FOSS-center here in Norway about this I got a 
pretty clear message back saying that this is indeed _not_ allowed. The 
message from them was that if I linked to a library / whatever that was under 
the GPL, then my application would have to be under the GPL (or one of the 
compatible licenses) and this sourcecode shared as well.

There is also something about what kind of license you have to have if your 
application is dependent on a GPL-based library or another GPL application, 
but I have yet to understand how that is supposed to work. I seem to remember 
Stallman saying something about how your application must be GPL if it is 
dependent on a GPL application to function properly. A viral license, or so it 
might seem.

The advice from all the FOSS-people and lawyers I've talked to has been the 
same; stay clear of things GPL (LGPL is a bit better thankfully). This is (as 
far as I've understood it) because of the many things that are too open to 
interpretations.

Keep in mind that IANAL and only try to pass on what the legal-guys have told 
me.

-- 
Christopher