Effect of the MySQL FLOSS License Exception?

[Rick Moen]

Quoting Lawrence Rosen (lrosen at rosenlaw.com):

> This entire matter has been blown way out of proportion because of the
> insistence of some that the reciprocity conditions of the GPL or LGPL reach
> to something more than derivative works. But if you read the actual terms of
> both licenses carefully in light of the copyright law definitions of
> *collective works* and *derivative works*, then mere linking to any Program
> -- treating the Program as a black box with hooks for connectivity -- does
> not lead to reciprocity under either license. The LGPL and the GPL have the
> same effect -- that is, NO EFFECT -- on the licenses of independent and
> separate other works that merely link.

Thank you, Larry.  This is what I was trying to get at, yesterday, when
I referred to that snippet from GPLv2 as "misleading" wording:  It
creates a mistaken impression about the reach of the licence that is not
supported by any reasonable understanding of copyright law.  That's the
sort of misunderstanding of the law that tends to inspire licensing
loons to rant about "viral" effects that do not exist.

-- 
Cheers,              First they came for the verbs, and I said nothing, for
Rick Moen            verbing weirds language.  Then, they arrival for the nouns
rick at linuxmafia.com  and I speech nothing, for I no verbs. - Peter Ellis
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