Sql Server Express Licensing question 2

[dseaver]

This is a somewhat hypothetical question, i don't foresee happening any time soon, but I want to cover myself before I have to worry about backtracking, I don't know if this is the right place to post this, but here I go.

I was wondering if there are any commercial limitations when it comes to using Sql Server Express. I read through the license (the one in the installer) and found no reference to not being able to use Sql Server Express for non-personal or non-educational uses. I have not used it in any commercial uses and don't plan to any time soon. But if say I create a website and use the Express version and then profit from my website, am I violating the EULA?

Should I not worry? For the time being, I am going to use it in a hobby sense, but in case I come up with anything useful, should I use the express version or switch over to using mySQL? If I can use Sql Server express and come up with something that could be commercialized, I would then look into lisencing SQL Server after building the funds from my Sql Server express solution.

 

[bborissov]

I think you should ask a lawyer about this.
For me using SQL Express is free for personal use, no matter if you make any money from this or not.
But again this all depends what therm "personal use" includes. I thing that therm could vary from country to country.

Borislav Borissov
VFP9 SP1, SQL Server 2000/2005.
Microsoft MVP VFP

 

[dseaver]

Fortunately, this currently isn't the case, just a hypothetical now. I haven't done anything with Sql outside of work. Thanks for the input, I will worry about this further if i ever develop something I could profit from

 

[mrdenny]

SQL Express can be used for a commercial site with no problem. It is free to use and free to download, but it does have limitiations which prevent it from being used in more production enviroments.

Denny
MCSA (2003) / MCDBA (SQL 2000)
MCTS (SQL 2005 / Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0: Configuration / Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007: Configuration)
MCITP Database Administrator (SQL 2005) / Database Developer (SQL 2005)

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