Details
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Bug
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Status: Closed (View Workflow)
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Major
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Resolution: Fixed
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N/A
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None
Description
This is like MDEV-10666, but focuses explicitly on the LGPL-licensed client libraries and connectors produced by MariaDB.
Monty Widenius writes in his personal blog regarding the BSL:
"MariaDB Corporation will over time create more BSL products. Even with new products coming under BSL, MariaDB Server will continue to be licensed under GPL in perpetuity. Keep in mind that because MariaDB Server extends earlier MySQL GPL code it is forever legally bound by the original GPL license of MySQL."
http://monty-says.blogspot.com/2016/08/applying-business-source-licensing-bsl.html
This assertion notably covers only MariaDB Server, and not the LGPL-licensed client libraries and connectors. Quoting Wikipedia's definition of LGPL:
"The license allows developers and companies to use and integrate software released under the LGPL into their own (even proprietary) software without being required by the terms of a strong copyleft license to release the source code of their own components. The license only requires software under the LGPL be modifiable by end users via source code availability."\
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_Lesser_General_Public_License
I understand this to allow for the possibility of MariaDB client and connectors, which are currently licensed under LGPL, to be distributed in the future under BSL. Please clarify MariaDB's commitment to retain the LGPL licensing of all client libraries and connectors where the GPL does not currently apply.