Save MySQL!

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  • theezy
    Senior Member
    • Nov 2009
    • 110
    • 3.8.x

    Save MySQL!




    If Oracle buys MySQL as part of Sun, database customers will pay the bill.

    In April 2009, Oracle announced that it had agreed to acquire Sun. Since Sun had acquired MySQL the previous year, this would mean that Oracle, the market leader for closed source databases, would get to own MySQL, the most popular open source database.

    If Oracle acquired MySQL on that basis, it would have as much control over MySQL as money can possibly buy over an open source project. In fact, for most open source projects (such as Linux or Apache) there isn't any comparable way for a competitor to buy even one tenth as much influence. But MySQL's success has always depended on the company behind it that develops, sells and promotes it. That company (initially MySQL AB, then Sun) has always owned the important intellectual property rights (IPRs), most notably the trademark, copyright and (so far only for defensive purposes) patents. It has used the IPRs to produce income and has reinvested a large part of those revenues in development, getting not only bigger but also better with time.

    If those IPRs fall into the hands of MySQL's primary competitor, then MySQL immediately ceases to be an alternative to Oracle's own high-priced products. So far, customers had the choice to use MySQL in new projects instead of Oracle's products. Some large companies even migrated (switched) from Oracle to MySQL for existing software solutions. And every one could credibly threaten Oracle's salespeople with using MySQL unless a major discount was granted. If Oracle owns MySQL, it will only laugh when customers try this. Getting rid of this problem is easily worth one billion dollars a year to Oracle, if not more.

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    Sign the petition: http://helpmysql.org/en/petition
  • unp
    Senior Member
    • Oct 2008
    • 105
    • 3.8.x

    #2
    Or adopt Postgresql, IPB has released beta drivers for postgresql and vb should also develop their own.
    So If oracle decides to kill mysql we should have a mature alternative.
    I need a drink...

    Comment

    • Dean C
      Senior Member
      • Mar 2002
      • 4571
      • 3.5.x

      #3
      Originally posted by unp
      Or adopt Postgresql, IPB has released beta drivers for postgresql and vb should also develop their own.
      So If oracle decides to kill mysql we should have a mature alternative.
      It's not as simple developing a robust abstraction layer as you might think. PostgreSQL is not a mature competitor to MySQL. It has some great features, but it lacks the community and resources that MySQL had under Sun & before. More importantly think how many websites currently run under MySQL across shared hosting platforms around the world. Absolutely millions! There's no way that all of these hosts are going to suddenly switch on postgreSQL for their customers, and their customers are all going to be able to upgrade with ease. If this deal goes through it will be an absolute disaster.
      Dean Clatworthy - Web Developer/Designer

      Comment

      • kyrgyz
        Senior Member
        • Oct 2007
        • 691

        #4
        Bad news. Now Microsoft needs to buy Linux.

        Comment

        • feldon23
          Senior Member
          • Nov 2001
          • 11291
          • 3.7.x

          #5
          Can they really go back on this:
          For Open Source Projects:
          • If you are developing and distributing open source applications under the GPL License, then you are free to use MySQL under the GPL License. More Info »
          • If you are developing and distributing open source applications under an OSI-Approved License, but not the GPL, MySQL provides the GPL License with a FLOSS Exception. More Info »
          MySQL does not really indicate what license commercial software developers *who do not include or bundle MySQL with their products* fall under.

          Comment

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