Re: Regarding licensing of Postgresql

On 12/05/11 12:55 AM, Jayashankar K B wrote:
>> Does that mean, we have to distribute whole source code including our 
>> proprietary software source?
Nope. PostgreSQL is released under a BSD-like license that imposes very 
few requirements. It's short and easy to read, so the best thing to do 
is go read it. The short version is that BSD-licensed code is used all 
over the place in closed-source apps where it's embedded entirely into 
the app, so you're not going to have problems just using libpq and 
postgresql in an embedded app.

If you're using PostGIS, that might be different as the PostGIS 
extensions are GPL licensed. See the PostGIS website for information on 
that; I don't know enough to comment further.

On 12/05/2011 04:59 PM, John R Pierce wrote:
> you're using Linux, which is GPL.  you need to *CAREFULLY* read the 
> GPL and go over this with your lawyers.  have fun.  I'm not a lawyer, 
> nor do I play one on TV.
>
This isn't really the place for a Linux/BSD flamewar, nor a licensing 
debate re the Linux kernel. The OP should use the existing extensive 
resources about Linux licensing in embedded systems. In terms of what 
must be released, have a look at what Linksys (now Cisco) are releasing 
- it's their kernel and any (L)GPL userspace components, but not their 
own stuff.

Note that relying on a full-GPL library that you directly link to 
clearly *does* require you to license your own code under the GPL. 
Anything short of that is grades of fuzzy.

--
Craig Ringer