Tony Gunter wrote:

> --- In Firebird-Architect@yahoogroups.com, Jim Starkey <jas@...> wrote:
>> [snip]
>
> What about licensing? The IBL is not listed on the OSI list of
> approved open source licenses:
>
> http://www.opensource.org/licenses/alphabetical

Not namely, but it is OSI approved. IPL is in fact MPL (Mozilla Public
Licence) with all references to Netscape replaced by references to
Borland/Inprise. The second license that Firebird uses - IDPL (Initial
Developer License) is also MPL, but with all references to specifically
named IP holder removed and replaced by abstract "Initial Developer".

> Why is this, and where does the licensing fit in the spectrum of
> viral / freely distributable licenses?

In the middle between GPL and BSD.

> I tried reading the IBL, but
> I'm not sure I understood what it was saying. It sounds like it's
> saying that one can freely distribute Firebird, but any custom changes
> to the Firebird DB must be made available to the greater Firebird
> community.

Basically, Yes.

> Is the IBL a viral license?

No.

best regards
Pavel Cisar
IBPhoenix