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Deutsch: Die Europäische Kommission untersucht die Zukunft von MySQL

The acquisition of Sun Microsystems by Oracle is investigated by the European Commission for its potential anti-competition effects, including the future role of MySQL as an open source database software owned by Oracle.

The debate between opponents and supporters of the merger has been tenser in the past weeks, after Oracle called on its biggest customers to support its position in the hearings at the European Commission, while the creator of the MySQL Monty Widenius made a public appeal to the open source community to reject the terms of this acquisition, unless Oracle commits to a series of issues that will make sure MySQL will not die: "So I just don't buy it that Oracle will be a good home for MySQL. A weak MySQL is worth about one billion dollars per year to Oracle, maybe more. A strong MySQL could never generate enough income for Oracle that they would want to cannibalize their real cash cow. I don't think any company has ever done anything like that."

Oracle attacked on 14 December 2009 by making public a series of 10 public commitments in order to asssure the public and the European Commission of its firm decision to continue its investment in research for MySQL and "to enhance MySQL in the future under the GPL."

The move appears to soften the position of the European regulators that will decide at the end of January 2010 on this merger, after the US Department of Justice has already confirmed the deal. The Commission states that the "announcement by Oracle of a series of undertakings to customers, developers and users of MySQL is an important new element to be taken into account in the ongoing proceedings."

The critics haven't been convinced of the new commitments, with Florian Mueller, an open critic of the deal, classifying them as "purely cosmetic". He also pointed out that the 5-year limit for the Oracle's public commitments is not enough.

Other members of the civil society have already backed the criticism to this deal with a public letter of the Knowledge Ecology International, Richard Stallman and EDRi-member Open Rights Group asking the Commission to block the acquisition.

The letter addressed to the EC officials explains that "Oracle seeks to acquire MySQL to prevent further erosion of its share of the market for database software licenses and services, and to protect the high prices now charged for its proprietary database software licenses and services.

If Oracle is allowed to acquire MySQL, it will predictably limit the development of the functionality and performance of the MySQL software platform, leading to profound harm to those who use MySQL software to power applications."

Letter to the EC opposing Oracle's acquisition of MySQL (19.10.2009)
http://keionline.org/ec-mysql

Oracle pledge pushes Sun deal forward (14.12.2009)
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/5d57f36c-e89a-11de-9c1f-00144feab49a.html

Monty says: Help Saving MySQL (12.12.2009)
http://monty-says.blogspot.com/2009/12/help-saving-mysql.html

Oracle's pledges on MySQL are 'purely cosmetic', say critics (14.12.2009)
http://www.itworld.com/government/89093/oracles-pledges-mysql-are-pure...

Oracle users tell EU Sun deal not anticompetitive (10.12.2009)
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSGEE5B92H020091210