[Freegis-list] gpl license for mdb?

[Bernhard Reiter]

On Wed, Mar 26, 2003 at 03:55:54PM +0100, Andrea Schukraft wrote:
> At the moment I am working on a Microsoft Access Database that is inteded to
> store metadata for all kinds of geographic data (digital, paper, tables,
> ...). The target group are small planning offices that don't want to store
> their metadata in textfiles any more.
> 
> The product will be a *.mdb file with tables, queries, guis(forms) and vba
> code.
> What I want is to distribute the product and enable everybody to use it for
> their needs, make changes, copy and redistribute it. So, I would like to
> distribute it under the terms of the GPL.
> Is this possible?

If you are the principal author 
you can fully determine the license.

> Some more detailed questions:
> 1. GPL paragraph 2a):
>   "You must cause the modified files to carry prominent notices
>   stating that you changed the files and the date of any change."

This only relevant if you are the licensee.

>   Is it sufficient to provide a table where the history is
>   stored (e.g. date of change, changed by, description, ...)

Yes, though you as author don't need to do this.

> 2. GPL paragraph 2:
>   "These requirements apply to the modified work as a whole.  If
>   identifiable sections of that work are not derived from the Program,
>   and can be reasonably considered independent and separate works in
>   themselves, then this License, and its terms, do not apply to those
>   sections when you distribute them as separate works."
> 
>   Is an *.mdb file an "independent and separate work" and therefore
>   can be distributed under the terms of the GPL?
>   To use it, i have to use MS Access. So it isn't independent and
>   separate, is it?

Again this is a question for somebody you modifies your application.
If MS Access allows you to take copyright on *.mdb files,
which AFAIK it does, your can place your code under the GNU GPL,
because you can consider MS Access the "operating" system for your
application (see GNU GPL Section 3 exception.)

> 3. GPL paragraph 3a):
>   "Accompany it [the Program] with the complete corresponding
>   machine-readable source code"
> 
>   What is the source code? Is it the *.mdb file? Because,
>   everybody who has this file (and an MS Access licence), can
>   read and change it. It can be copied and distributed.
>   GPL: "The source code for a work means the preferred form
>   of the work for making modifications to it."

I don't know much about *.mdb files, but your description
would fit for "source" code.
If somebody else would write a Free Software which is similiar to MS
Access and could interpret *.mdb files they probably could excute
your application.

One thing to consider on the other hand is: 
Why depend on the proprietary ms access at all? 
Using mysql and Python on Windows could be an alternative.

	Bernhard

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