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