[debian-mysql] Fw: What's up with restrictive licensing?

[Christian Hammers]

FYI

bye,

-christian-

Begin forwarded message:

Date: Mon, 12 Nov 2007 11:16:03 +0100
From: Stefan Hinz <stefan at mysql.com>
To: Justin Krueger <fuzzywoodlandcreature at gmail.com>
Cc: docs at mysql.com, ch at debian.org
Subject: Re: What's up with restrictive licensing?


Hi Justin,

> I, being a long-time Linux/UNIX user, tried doing what comes natural
> to me when I want to learn more about a program and ran 'man
> mysqldump' only to get a completely useless manual entry.
> 
> COPYRIGHT
>        MySQL  decided to release the documentation, even the manpages, under a
>        license which does not allow Debian to redistribute it.  Feel  free  to
>        contact MySQL at <docs at mysql.com> if you would like to share your opin-
>        ion on the matter :)
> 
> I understand a right and motivation to protect intellectual property,
> but I see no reason to make it restrictive enough (especially for
> software considered open source) that it becomes difficult for others
> to distribute documentation.  We're all friends here, what's the deal?
>  I realize I can just pop a browser open and find the documentation
> elsewhere, but I'm a geek and it should come with the software I
> install.

We've resolved those issues by putting the MySQL man pages under the
GPL. This means Debian will include them again in the next releases.

-- 
Regards,

Stefan Hinz <stefan at mysql.com>, MySQL AB Documentation Manager
Berlin, Germany (UTC +1:00/winter, +2:00/summer)
Skype:stefanhinz Cell:+491777841069 Desk:+493082702940 Fax:+493082702941