Despite being an active part of the GPLv3 advisory process, MySQL has decided to play it safe and restrict the MySQL 5.0 and 5.1 licenses to GPLv2. Seems a prudent move, in light of the considerable controversary generated by the changes within the forthcoming license. According to Kaj Arno, who blogged about the change the other day, the move was made while the company evaluates the general public’s embrace (or lack thereof) of v3.
Of course, the Web is home to no small amount of misinformation, intentional or otherwise. Therefore if you’re not aware of what all the hub-bub is about, consider checking out the following resources:
The Free Software Foundation’s response to earlier public outcry regarding the new license. This certainly clarifies some of the misinformation being spread, particularly regarding the paranoid (and incorrect) notion that anybody using GPLv2 will be automatically forced to upgrade.
A great (if very long) thread regarding the GPLv3 and its ramifications to the Linux kernel. Luminaries such as Linus Torvalds and Alan Cox offer thoughts, definitely worth a read.
