Submitted by Mark Rittman (not verified) on Sun, 07/22/2007 - 22:23.
Niall, you're totally correct, and I've lost count of the amount of places I've been to where customers seem to think that databases used for development can be set up free of charge. As you say, the terms under which you can download software from OTN are quite onerous, all you can do is develop a short proof of concept on a single user/developer basis.
The training issue is important as well, and the restriction in the OTN license specifically excludes you from using the downloaded software to provide third-party training even if the third-parties have their own licensed software. One to watch out for if you intend hiring a hotel conference room and running your own public course.
However, if you sign up for the Oracle Partner Network though, you can get access to software for "free" for use in either demonstrations, or for developing solutions for customers (i.e. without all the restrictions in the OTN license). You can't use it for internal purposes (i.e. build a company website, build internal databases etc) but you can get an unlimited number of licenses free of charge that can be used to build or demonstrate your Oracle based solution or service offering. You can also use these licenses to provide training to your own employees, or to licensed end-users (note: not unlicensed end-users), which is why Jon and I signed up to the partner network scheme (around £1k for the introductory level) to cover us for development and for providing training to Oracle customers.
As you say, a tricky area, and whilst you don't usually see Oracle enforcing this personal training/prototyping clause, if you're in a commercial situation it's wise to be aware of the official license restrictions and take advantage of schemes like the Partner Network one.
You're totally correct
Niall, you're totally correct, and I've lost count of the amount of places I've been to where customers seem to think that databases used for development can be set up free of charge. As you say, the terms under which you can download software from OTN are quite onerous, all you can do is develop a short proof of concept on a single user/developer basis.
The training issue is important as well, and the restriction in the OTN license specifically excludes you from using the downloaded software to provide third-party training even if the third-parties have their own licensed software. One to watch out for if you intend hiring a hotel conference room and running your own public course.
However, if you sign up for the Oracle Partner Network though, you can get access to software for "free" for use in either demonstrations, or for developing solutions for customers (i.e. without all the restrictions in the OTN license). You can't use it for internal purposes (i.e. build a company website, build internal databases etc) but you can get an unlimited number of licenses free of charge that can be used to build or demonstrate your Oracle based solution or service offering. You can also use these licenses to provide training to your own employees, or to licensed end-users (note: not unlicensed end-users), which is why Jon and I signed up to the partner network scheme (around £1k for the introductory level) to cover us for development and for providing training to Oracle customers.
As you say, a tricky area, and whilst you don't usually see Oracle enforcing this personal training/prototyping clause, if you're in a commercial situation it's wise to be aware of the official license restrictions and take advantage of schemes like the Partner Network one.
cheers, Mark