Thanks flexvault for the information.

Unfortunately I have no control over the version of the Berkeley DB engine that the firm that hosts the website is using for DB_File. I only use version 1 and I wished that they had done the same, which would have saved the trouble that I had.

From BerkeleyDB

Although B<BerkeleyDB> is covered by the Perl license, the library it makes use of, namely Berkeley DB, is not. Berkeley DB has its own copyright and its own license. Please take the time to read it.

Here are few words taken from the Berkeley DB FAQ (at F<http://www.oracle.com/technology/products/berkeley-db/db/index.html>) regarding the license:

Do I have to license DB to use it in Perl scripts?

No. The Berkeley DB license requires that software that uses Berkeley DB be freely redistributable. In the case of Perl, that software is Perl, and not your scripts. Any Perl scripts that you write are your property, including scripts that make use of Berkeley DB. Neither the Perl license nor the Berkeley DB license place any restriction on what you may do with them.

If you are in any doubt about the license situation, contact either the Berkeley DB authors or the author of BerkeleyDB.

Just in case you're wondering, maybe the license changed, it hasn't

curent license http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/database/berkeleydb/downloads/oslicense-093458.html Open Source License for Berkeley DB

original license http://web.archive.org/web/20060315212050/http://www.sleepycat.com/company/oslicense.html Open Source License for Berkeley DB

$ diff  license-BerkeleyDB-2005.txt license-BerkeleyDB-2011.txt
3,4c3,4
<  * Copyright (c) 1990-2005
<  *      Sleepycat Software.  All rights reserved.
---
>  * Copyright (c) 1990-2009
>  *      Oracle Corporation.  All rights reserved.
25c25
<  * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY SLEEPYCAT SOFTWARE ``AS IS'' AND ANY
+ EXPRESS
---
>  * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY ORACLE CORPORATION ``AS IS'' AND ANY
+ EXPRESS
28c28
<  * NON-INFRINGEMENT, ARE DISCLAIMED.  IN NO EVENT SHALL SLEEPYCAT SO
+FTWARE
---
>  * NON-INFRINGEMENT, ARE DISCLAIMED.  IN NO EVENT SHALL ORACLE CORPO
+RATION
39c39
<  *    The Regents of the University of California.  All rights reser
+ved.
---
>  *      The Regents of the University of California.  All rights res
+erved.
67c67
<  *    The President and Fellows of Harvard University.  All rights r
+eserved.
---
>  *      The President and Fellows of Harvard University.  All rights
+ reserved.
[download]

It's just a shame that you can't download it for free any more since Oracle got their grubby mitts on it.

---

With the rise and rise of 'Social' network sites: 'Computers are making people easier to use everyday'

Examine what is said, not who speaks -- Silence betokens consent -- Love the truth but pardon error.

"Science is about questioning the status quo. Questioning authority".

In the absence of evidence, opinion is indistinguishable from prejudice.

The start of some sanity?