## ...This is excerpted from the mysql user manual

## 1.4 MySQL Support and Licensing

This section describes `MySQL` support and licensing arrangements.

### 1.4.1 Support Offered by MySQL AB

Technical support from `MySQL AB` means individualised answers to your unique problems direct from the software engineers who code the `MySQL` database engine.

We try to take a broad and inclusive view of technical support. Almost any problem involving `MySQL` software is important to us if it's important to you. Typically customers seek help on how to get different commands and utilities to work, remove performance bottlenecks, restore crashed systems, understand operating system or networking impacts on `MySQL`, set up best practices for backup and recovery, utilise APIs, and so on. Our support covers only the `MySQL` server and our own utilities, not third-party products that access the `MySQL` server, though we try to help with these where we can.

Detailed information about our various support options is given at http://www.mysql.com/support/, where support contracts can also be ordered online. If you have restricted access to the Internet, please contact our sales staff via e-mail at sales@mysql.com.

Technical support is like life insurance. You can live happily without it for years, but when your hour arrives it becomes critically important, yet it's too late to buy it. If you use `MySQL Server` for important applications and encounter sudden difficulties, it may be too time consuming to figure out all the answers yourself. You may need immediate access to the most experienced `MySQL` troubleshooters available, those employed by `MySQL AB`.

### 1.4.2 Copyrights and Licenses Used by MySQL

`MySQL AB` owns the copyright to the `MySQL` source code, the `MySQL` logos and trademarks and this manual. See section 1.3 What Is MySQL AB?. Several different licenses are relevant to the `MySQL` distribution:

1. All the `MySQL`-specific source in the server, the `mysqlclient` library and the client, as well as the `GNU` `readline` library is covered by the `GNU General Public License`. See section H GNU General Public License. The text of this license can be found as the file ``COPYING'` in the distribution.
2. The `GNU` `getopt` library is covered by the `GNU Lesser General Public License`. See section I GNU Lesser General Public License.
3. Some parts of the source (the `regexp` library) are covered by a Berkeley-style copyright.
4. Older versions of `MySQL` (3.22 and earlier) are subject to a stricter license (http://www.mysql.com/products/mypl.html). See the documentation of the specific version for information.
5. The `MySQL` reference manual is currently not distributed under a `GPL`-style license. Use of the manual is subject to the following terms:
   - Conversion to other formats is allowed, but the actual content may not be altered or edited in any way.
   - You may create a printed copy for your own personal use.
   - For all other uses, such as selling printed copies or using (parts of) the manual in another publication, prior written agreement from `MySQL AB` is required.
   Please send an e-mail to docs@mysql.com for more information or if you are interested in doing a translation.

For information about how the `MySQL` licenses work in practice, please refer to section 1.4.3 MySQL Licenses. Also see section 1.4.4 MySQL AB Logos and Trademarks.

### 1.4.3 MySQL Licenses

The `MySQL` software is released under the `GNU General Public License` (`GPL`), which is probably the best known `Open Source` license. The formal terms of the `GPL` license can be found at http://www.gnu.org/licenses/. See also http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html and http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/enforcing-gpl.html.

Since the `MySQL` software is released under the `GPL`, it may often be used for free, but for certain uses you may want or need to buy commercial licenses from `MySQL AB` at https://order.mysql.com/. See http://www.mysql.com/products/licensing.html for more information.

Older versions of `MySQL` (3.22 and earlier) are subject to a stricter license (http://www.mysql.com/products/mypl.html). See the documentation of the specific version for information.

Please note that the use of the `MySQL` software under commercial license, `GPL`, or the old `MySQL` license does not automatically give you the right to use `MySQL AB` trademarks. See section 1.4.4 MySQL AB Logos and Trademarks.

#### 1.4.3.1 Using the MySQL Software Under a Commercial License

The `GPL` license is contagious in the sense that when a program is linked to a `GPL` program all the source code for all the parts of the resulting product must also be released under the `GPL`. If you do not follow this `GPL` requirement, you break the license terms and forfeit your right to use the `GPL` program altogether. You also risk damages.

You need a commercial license:

- When you link a program with any `GPL` code from the `MySQL` software and don't want the resulting product to be licensed under `GPL`, perhaps because you want to build a commercial product or keep the added non-`GPL` code closed source for other reasons. When purchasing commercial licenses, you are not using the `MySQL` software under `GPL` even though it's the same code.
- When you distribute a non-`GPL` application that only works with the `MySQL` software and ship it with the `MySQL` software. This type of solution is considered to be linking even if it's done over a network.
- When you distribute copies of the `MySQL` software without providing the source code as required under the `GPL` license.
- When you want to support the further development of the `MySQL` database even if you don't formally need a commercial license. Purchasing support directly from `MySQL AB` is another good way of contributing to the development of the `MySQL` software, with immediate advantages for you. See section 1.4.1 Support Offered by MySQL AB.

If you require a license, you will need one for each installation of the `MySQL` software. This covers any number of CPUs on a machine, and there is no artificial limit on the number of clients that connect to the server in any way.

For commercial licenses, please visit our website at http://www.mysql.com/products/licensing.html. For support contracts, see http://www.mysql.com/support/. If you have special needs or you have restricted access to the Internet, please contact our sales staff via e-mail at sales@mysql.com.

#### 1.4.3.2 Using the MySQL Software for Free Under GPL

You can use the `MySQL` software for free under the `GPL` if you adhere to the conditions of the `GPL`. For additional details, including answers to common questions about the `GPL`, see the generic FAQ from the Free Software Foundation at http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html. Common uses of the `GPL` include:

- When you distribute both your own application and the `MySQL` source code under the `GPL` with your product.
- When you distribute the `MySQL` source code bundled with other programs that are not linked to or dependent on the `MySQL` system for their functionality even if you sell the distribution commercially. This is called mere aggregation in the `GPL` license.
- When you are not distributing any part of the `MySQL` system, you can use it for free.
- When you are an Internet Service Provider (ISP), offering web hosting with `MySQL` servers for your customers. We encourage people to use ISPs that have MySQL support, as this will give them the confidence that their ISP will, in fact, have the resources to solve any problems they may experience with the `MySQL` installation. Even if an ISP does not have a commercial license for `MySQL Server`, their customers should at least be given read access to the source of the `MySQL` installation so that the customers can verify that it is correctly patched.
- When you use the `MySQL` database software in conjunction with a web server, you do not need a commercial license (so long as it is not a product you distribute). This is true even if you run a commercial web server that uses `MySQL Server`, because you are not distributing any part of the `MySQL` system. However, in this case we would like you to purchase `MySQL` support because the `MySQL` software is helping your enterprise.

If your use of `MySQL` database software does not require a commercial license, we encourage you to purchase support from `MySQL AB` anyway. This way you contribute toward `MySQL` development and also gain immediate advantages for yourself. See section 1.4.1 Support Offered by MySQL AB.

If you use the `MySQL` database software in a commercial context such that you profit by its use, we ask that you further the development of the `MySQL` software by purchasing some level of support. We feel that if the `MySQL` database helps your business, it is reasonable to ask that you help `MySQL AB`. (Otherwise, if you ask us support questions, you are not only using for free something into which we've put a lot a work, you're asking us to provide free support, too.)

### 1.4.4 MySQL AB Logos and Trademarks

Many users of the `MySQL` database want to display the `MySQL AB` dolphin logo on their web sites, books, or boxed products. We welcome and encourage this, although it should be noted that the word `MySQL` and the `MySQL` dolphin logo are trademarks of `MySQL AB` and may only be used as stated in our trademark policy at http://www.mysql.com/company/trademark.html.

#### 1.4.4.1 The Original MySQL Logo

The `MySQL` dolphin logo was designed by the Finnish advertising agency Priority in 2001. The dolphin was chosen as a suitable symbol for the `MySQL` database since it is a smart, fast, and lean animal, effortlessly navigating oceans of data. We also happen to like dolphins.

The original `MySQL` logo may only be used by representatives of `MySQL AB` and by those having a written agreement allowing them to do so.

#### 1.4.4.2 MySQL Logos that may be Used Without Written Permission

We have designed a set of special Conditional Use logos that may be downloaded from our web site at http://www.mysql.com/press/logos.html and used on third-party web sites without written permission from `MySQL AB`. The use of these logos is not entirely unrestricted but, as the name implies, subject to our trademark policy that is also available on our web site. You should read through the trademark policy if you plan to use them. The requirements are basically as follows:

- Use the logo you need as displayed on the http://www.mysql.com/ site. You may scale it to fit your needs, but may not change colours or design, or alter the graphics in any way.
- Make it evident that you, and not `MySQL AB`, are the creator and owner of the site that displays the `MySQL` trademark.
- Don't use the trademark in a way that is detrimental to `MySQL AB` or to the value of `MySQL AB` trademarks. We reserve the right to revoke the right to use the `MySQL AB` trademark.
- If you use the trademark on a web site, make it clickable, leading directly to http://www.mysql.com/.
- If you are use the `MySQL` database under `GPL` in an application, your application must be `Open Source` and must be able to connect to a `MySQL` server.

Contact us via e-mail at trademark@mysql.com to inquire about special arrangements to fit your needs.

#### 1.4.4.3 When do you need a Written Permission to use MySQL Logos?

You need written permission from `MySQL AB` before using `MySQL` logos in the following cases:

- When displaying any `MySQL AB` logo anywhere except on your web site.
- When displaying any `MySQL AB` logo except the Conditional Use logos mentioned previously on web sites or elsewhere.

Due to legal and commercial reasons we monitor the use of MySQL trademarks on products, books, and other items. We usually require a fee for displaying `MySQL AB` logos on commercial products, since we think it is reasonable that some of the revenue is returned to fund further development of the `MySQL` database.

#### 1.4.4.4 MySQL AB Partnership Logos

`MySQL` partnership logos may be used only by companies and persons having a written partnership agreement with `MySQL AB`. Partnerships include certification as a `MySQL` trainer or consultant. For more information, please see section 1.3.1.5 Partnering.

#### 1.4.4.5 Using the word `MySQL` in Printed Text or Presentations

`MySQL AB` welcomes references to the `MySQL` database, but it should be noted that the word `MySQL` is a trademark of `MySQL AB`. Because of this, you must append the trademark symbol (`TM`) to the first or most prominent use of the word `MySQL` in a text and, where appropriate, state that `MySQL` is a trademark of `MySQL AB`. For more information, please refer to our trademark policy at http://www.mysql.com/company/trademark.html.

#### 1.4.4.6 Using the word `MySQL` in Company and Product Names

Use of the word `MySQL` in product or company names or in Internet domain names is not allowed without written permission from `MySQL AB`.