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If I plan to use MySQL on a web-development project (example.com) where my web application is a commercial product where I'm selling a service and it just so happens that MySQL, using the InnoDB engine, is the backend data storage for my web application ... do I have to purchase a commercial license to use MySQL/InnoDB?
If I do have to purchase a commercial license, can anyone recommend a good alternative to MySQL that's free (no strings attached).
Thanks
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See also http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html and http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/enforcing-gpl.html. Since the MySQL software is released under the GPL, it may often be used for free, but for certain uses you may want or need to buy commercial licenses from MySQL AB at https://order.mysql.com/.
Free use for those who never copy,modify, or distribute. MySQL can be used freely within a web site. If you also develop a PHP application and install it with your Internet service provider, you do not have to make your PHP code freely available in the sense of GPL.
MySQL Community Edition is the freely downloadable version of the world's most popular open source database. It is available under the GPL license and is supported by a huge and active community of open source developers.
The commercial license allows OEMs, ISVs and VARs to distribute commercial binaries of MySQL software with their own commercial software without subjecting that software to the GPL and its requirement to distribute source code.
UPDATE. Sorry, I got it wrong first. If you are not distributing your website's code, then no, you don't need to buy a license. GPL only restricts redistribution, not use.
Innobase Oy provides InnoDB exclusively to Sun/MySQL, which distributes and supports InnoDB within its product offerings. InnoDB is included under the open source GNU Public License (GPL) V2 in the MySQL Enterprise Server and is suitable for a broad range of users. The MySQL Community Edition, which is likewise is available in open source under the terms of the GPLv2, also includes InnoDB.
http://www.innodb.com/products/innodb/license/
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