Bug #5772 GPL'd server includes parts from non-GPL documentation
Submitted: 27 Sep 2004 18:22 Modified: 9 Feb 2005 12:53
Reporter: Christian Hammers (Silver Quality Contributor) (OCA) Email Updates:
Status: Closed Impact on me:
None 
Category:Licensing Severity:S3 (Non-critical)
Version:4.1.x OS:Linux (Debian GNU/Linux)
Assigned to: Arjen Lentz CPU Architecture:Any

[27 Sep 2004 18:22] Christian Hammers 
Description:
Hello

I don't want to reopen the MySQL licensing hell again but did you notice that the
new "help <sql command>" client functionality includes part of the non-free documentation via scripts/fill_help_tables during the build process?

IIRC the Debian Free Software Guidelines demands the right to modify and redistribute he complete program's source code which in your case includes e.g. the text of the help messages which, I would say, still belong to the MySQL Documentation although they are incorporated into the mysql-server code at build time.... 
Maybe your licensing guy (Zak?) could drop me a short statement before I let the Debian legal team review it...

bye,

-christian-  <ch@debian.org>

How to repeat:
Try to build the package after removing the nonfree parts..

Suggested fix:
- add your own license to the FLOSS? *g*
- write an exception in the doc's license
- put the command line help in the server package and include it into the documentation
  via doc/Makefile instead of the other way around
[9 Feb 2005 12:53] Arjen Lentz 
From 4.1.10, the SQL file with the help info has a GPL header.