MySQL Licensing
Licensing:
MySQL AB makes MySQL Server available as free software under the GNU General Public License(GPL), but they also offer the MySQL Enterprise subscription offering for business users and dual-license it under traditional proprietarylicensing arrangements for cases where the intended use is incompatible with the GPL.
Both the MySQL server software itself and the client libraries are distributed under a dual-licensing format. Users may choose the GNU General Public License[9], which MySQL has extended with a FLOSS License Exception. It allows Software licensed under other OSI-compliant Open Source licenses, which are not compatible to the GPL, to link against the MySQL client libraries.[10]
Customers that do not wish to be bound to the terms of the GPL may choose to purchase a proprietary license.[11]
Like many open-source programs, the name “MySQL” is trademarked and may only be used with the trademark holder’s permission.
Some users have independently continued to develop earlier versions of the client libraries, which was distributed under the less-restrictive Lesser General Public License.[12]
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