MySQL Connectors and Licensing

Question

It occured to me that the MySQL Connectors(Java and .NET) are GPL licensed.

Does that mean vendors(not developing for inhouse apps) will have to purcase a commercial license for proprietary software talking to a MySQL database through these connectors

Solution

If you are linking to the MySQL connectors in your application then yes - your application is considered to be "work based on that Program" as per the GPL. You have 2 options:

1. License your application under a GPL compatible license.

2. Become a MySQL Ready Partner (free) and get one of your applications MySQL approved. This grants you access to the Connectors under a dual license - which will allow you to use the Connectors with proprietary code. More info here : https://partner-portal.mysql.com/guide/overview.html

(Note that the Connectors grants exceptions to the GPL licensing for open source projects.)