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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I fail to see how any of this will affect any vBulletin forum owner.

Please explain the relevance.

Most people here probably use a MySQL database and probably dont want to pay to use MySQL or learn a new database software. Also I thought this was the off topic lounge, therefore topics posted here do not all have to be relevant to what directly effects vBulletin forum owners.

It is seemingly likely that Oracle will drain MySQL of resources. That will affect you as the owner of a forum what runs on this platform. The EU approved the deal this week, so the only hope left is that Russia & China veto the deal.

Nothing you posted says that individuals who currently use mySQL databases will have to pay, at any point in the future. One of your sources is an Oracle press release (that doesn't mention mySQL anywhere, only Java and Solaris), the other is a link to your own site, or whoever owns the site you are promoting.

You scraped an article that relates to the concerns that businesses that currently use mySQL instead of Oracle databases, and appear to be trying to run a site based on perpetuating a fear that it will flow on down to all mySQL users.

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And just to show I can link to articles too:

http://www.newsfactor.com/story.xhtm...d=101005XX8RCL

So. A commercial license appears to be on the horizon. Couldn't find anything about it being mandatory. Perhaps, just perhaps, Oracle will offer this option that includes support and maintenance?

@OP: I work in the industry. Do you?

Im not promoting anything. I grabbed this article off that Save MySQL site.
I thought it would be interesting for MySQL users to read. That is all. :up:

Just which bits of MySQL are protectable? I guess if Oracle effectively acquired MySQL they acquired its trademarks including the name MySQL and any copyright in the database of users, but how much of the code is protectable given that this is an open source product? If Oracle don't treat the open source community with a degree of respect, surely the open source community can just establish a new brand that works with php and associated programs?

JJ

They could but it'd take years to get it supported and ready for use like MySQL is now. Not to mention a large portion of basic hosting customers would be lost if the end was near for MySQL since cPanel/WHM relies on it to some degree, and it's the only database vBulletin supports as well.