MySQL is not going to adopt GPL3 license for now

MySQL AG has said that they are modifying its approach to GPL licensing. This means that they would not be required to move on to GPL 3 license for their MySQL database application.

GPL 3 is expected to be available sometime later this year. Kaj Arno, MySQL’s VP of community relations said that the copyright notice in the MySQL source code will change from stating the code is covered by “either GPL Version 2 or later” licenses to “GPL Version 2 only.”

They are not alone. Even Linus Torvalds and other Linux developers have said that they are not very sure of upgrading Linux’s license to Version 3 of the GPL.

This updated GPL license would feature a digital rights management provision and other optional restrictions. Linux developers are unlikely to adopt these changes.

Arno added in a blog post on this development: “Six years ago, our founders David Axmark and Michael Widenius [chose GPL Version 2] because the GPL was a license followed and respected by everyone. We have kept to it, because the GPL is the most palatable license and poses the least friction for our user base.”