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More Mudslinging in the MySQL Debate

It looks like fretting over the future of MySQL has reached a fever pitch. As we've reported before, MySQL has been losing customers to competitors such as IBM as the European Commission stalls the proposed acquisition of Sun Microsystems by Oracle. MySQL founder Michael 'Monty' Widenius and founder of the MySQL business, has suggested that Oracle should resolve antitrust concerns over its proposed $7.4 billion acquisition of Sun by committing to sell MySQL to a suitable third party. Widenius' missive on the recommendation is online here. In it, he says EU's antitrust regulator is "absolutely right to be concerned" about the acquisition but adds that "Sun [shouldn't] suffer much longer."

Widenius adds that he wishes Sun:

"...all the best, but MySQL needs a different home than Oracle, a home where there will be no conflicts of interest concerning how, or if, MySQL should be developed further."

Former MySQL CEO Marten Mickos has also penned a letter to the European Commission. In it, he expresses support for the Sun acquisition and says:

"Oracle has as many compelling business reasons to continue the ramp-up of the MySQL business as Sun Microsystems and MySQL previously did, or even more."

Oracle CEO Larry Ellison has pledged to spend money developing MySQL if the acquisition goes through, but the debate over exactly what will happen is increasingly fragmented. The more time that passes without a resolution, the more likely it is that MySQL customers will free for competitive offerings.

I'm in agreement with Matt Asay, who writes:

"The EC means well, but it is not doing the right thing for MySQL, its community, or other open-source commercial efforts. Quite the opposite."

Time is the issue here, and whether Oracle sells MySQL should be decided later. How is any of this helping MySQL?

• mysql
• Sun Microsystems
• Oracle

by Scott Metcalf on Oct. 19, 2009

Correction Please!

Your statement that "MySQL has been losing customers such as IBM" is not accurate. Sun is being hurt by the delay no doubt but MySQL is still growing and not loosing customers.

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by Craig Harris on Oct. 19, 2009

Of course the founders would like to take MySQL back and make good use of it to make more money again! Let's not have them spread FUD. As @Scott mentioned too, MySQL is growing, and people who use it are not expecting to stop or swap out. IBM and others are going to try and take advantage and push out other stuff there.

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