Oracle Database Express Edition (XE)

Hi all,

I've got a question concerning the Oracle XE BETA Trial license (I'm referring to the document behind the "License Agreement" link in the "links" pane on the right top of the database home page)

I understand that the Oracle XE Beta License grants permission to use the product for evaluation purposes. I also understand that the license is for a limited period of time (one month) only. The things I'm not really clear on are these:

1) the license states that "You may not use the Software for any commercial or production purpose". What exactly constitutes commercial usage? For example, if I were to provide some business service, and want to allow my customers to enter a restricted or otherwise inaccessible web site powered by Oracle XE, Is that commercial usage? After all, people have to pay before they can access the site altough they are not paying for the database - they are paying for my content.

Also, I though I understood from Tom's podcast that you can redistribute Oracle XE in an embedded form - Does this mean I can't charge money for my own product once I embed Oracle XE?

2) will the production version have the same limitations regarding commercial usage of the database? What about the limited period of time?

Any replies are greatly appreciated.

kind regards

Roland