MySQL Licence, GPL, and Legal Use

[Burgresso]

Reading MySQL's faqs and documentation, they strongly imply that *any* commercial use of MySQL requires their commercial license. They also point out, as per the GPL they use, that if you distribute it software using MySQL, it must be open source unless you buy a license.

But what about web sites? Commercial websites and products (as in a...I dunno, any web-based service you would subscribe too) ? You are technically not distributing the product, you are keeping it local to your server(s). Surely many sites - even those e-commerce - use MySQL, and use the GPL version of it. Straight up speaking, this is should be legit under the GPL. Right?

So why does MySQL fuddle this by implying the latter*? Are they right? Can you use MySQL commercially in this way?

Thanks,

burgresso

*meaning "can they"...

[jpeddicord]

I believe it is fine to use MySQL on a webserver for whatever purpose you choose. The only reason you would need a MySQL license would be if you were selling a product that included MySQL software.

Keep it local to your server and you should be all good. :)