SQL Server 2000 Desktop Engine
DCT Jared Smith
jared at dctkc.com
Wed Mar 20 21:54:31 CST 2002
Take a look here:
http://www.microsoft.com/sql/techinfo/development/2000/MSDE2000.asp
Microsoft is making a database engine, available for free,
free as in beer and free as in libre. The only limitation
I can find, by reading through the license, is that you cannot
use this engine to build a competitor for Access, which is
a reasonable request.
Just as we are about to integrate MySQL into our first
commercial product, for which we need to pay $200
per site, this information comes through.
Question to the LUG:
Is Microsoft intentionally trying to undercut a major source
of income for folks like MySQL, or are they genuinely
making this MSDE engine available for free in the spirit
of GNU, or, my guess, are they simply making it available
with the intent of attracting developers who will eventually
scale up to... the full SQL Server 2000 edition?
Anything more sinister is possible, but speculative. (IE
MS could be intending to yank support for this engine...
blah blah blah)
Anyone have some insight on this?
-Jared
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p.s. The actual license is a subset of several product licenses,
and the following is the relevant section:
d. Use of Redistributable Code/Component Licenses. In
addition to the rights granted above, Microsoft grants
you the nonexclusive, royalty-free right to use, reproduce
and distribute the Microsoft SQL Server Desktop
Engine ("MSDE") and the files listed in the REDIST.TXT
contained in the Product (collectively, the
"Redistributable Code"), provided that you also comply
with the following:
i. General Requirements. If you choose to redistribute
any portion of the Redistributable Code, you agree:
A. to distribute the Redistributable Code in object
code form and only in conjunction with and as a part
of a software application product developed by you
that adds significant and primary functionality to the
Product ("Application");
B. not to use Microsoft's name, logo, or trademarks to
market the Application;
C. to include a valid copyright notice in your name
on the Application;
D. to indemnify, hold harmless, and defend Microsoft
from and against any claims or lawsuits, including
attorney's fees, that arise or result from the use or
distribution of the Application; and
E. to otherwise comply with the terms of this EULA.
You also agree not to permit further distribution of
the Redistributable Code by your end users except you
may permit further redistribution of the Redistributable
Code by your distributors if they only distribute the
Redistributable Code in conjunction with, and as part of,
the Application and you and your distributors comply
with all other terms of this EULA.
ii. Additional Requirements for MSDE. If you choose to
redistribute MSDE, you also agree:
A. that your Application shall not substantially duplicate
the capabilities of Microsoft Access or, in the reasonable
opinion of Microsoft, compete with same; and
B. that unless your Application requires your customers
to license Microsoft Access in order to operate, you
shall not reproduce or use MSDE for commercial
distribution in conjunction with a general purpose word
processing, spreadsheet or database management
software product, or an integrated work or product
suite whose components include a general purpose word
processing, spreadsheet, or database management
software product except for the exclusive use of
importing data to the various formats supported by
Microsoft Access. Note: A product that includes limited
word processing, spreadsheet or database components
along with other components which provide significant
and primary value, such as an accounting product with
limited spreadsheet capability, is not considered to be
a "general purpose" product.
iii. Component Licenses. The Product may contain certain
components (each, a "Component") that included a separate
end user license agreement (a "Component Agreement"). The
terms of any Component Agreement are herein incorporated by
reference to this EULA; in the event of any inconsistencies
between this EULA and any Component Agreement, the terms
of this EULA shall control.
---------------------------------------------------------
p.p.s. in other news, MySQL and Oracle are roughly equal under
stress, according to this recent surprising benchmark:
http://www.eweek.com/print_article/0,3668,a=23115,00.asp
-Jared
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