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09 Dec 2009
The outgoing European Commissioner on Competition Neelie Kroes has launched an astonishing attack on a request from 59 US senators for a speedy resolution to the takeover of Sun by Oracle.
Kroes, who leaves her post in January, used a speech in Brussels to attack the pressure being placed on the EU to approve the merger. The EU has until 17 January to decide if it wants to block the deal.
She lambasted the senators for "interfering in someone else's decisions rather than taking the most important decision that you have control over: improving health care."
"Is this really more important than fixing your own health care system?" she asked in a speech, according to Associated Press.
She continued that the senators needed to get their priorities straight.
Analysts are increasingly expecting the EU to come out against the Sun/Oracle merger. The primary concern seems to be Oracle’s plans for the MySQL database. MySQL is a direct competitor to Oracle’s own commercial products.
“Disagreement over the value of MySQL – both as a standalone entity and as part of a big company – lies at the heart of a bitter public battle between Oracle and the European Union over the Sun acquisition,” said Florian Mueller, a former MySQL shareholder,
“The fight illuminates a larger truth about open-source companies: their societal and strategic importance far exceeds their financial value as operating businesses."
One move Oracle is reportedly considering is hiving off MySQL into a separate firm with its own board of directors – a move it had initially rejected.
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Do you agree?
Moderation
While I think that Noelle has been somewhat ill-advised in her comments, it is clear (as always) that we do need to do whatever it takes to keep the free market honest. Allowing Sun and Oracle to merge and in the process do away with the competition that keeps a balance in the marketplace would be clearly a mistake. Unmoderated capitalism always produces monopolies eventually which then stops the free market working effectively. Since the free market is the basis on which capitalism works, moderation is a necessary part of the process. Good on the EU for not ducking the task.
Posted by: NickC 11 Dec 2009
Profit yes please
Why stand in the way of a mega company safeguarding its position to maximise profit. After all, who needs Open Source software, surely not to do business on the Web
Posted by: Chris 10 Dec 2009
Neelie needs to retire soon
She has made a bad decision based on bad advice. She is clearly out of her comfort zone. Someone help her save face and move on.
Posted by: jim Collins 09 Dec 2009
Doing more than one thing at at time
Interesting that this distinguished bureaucrat believes that US senators can either 1.) send her note to due her job properly and in an informed manor or 2.) due their job properly. What if we could all do only one thing at a time? - doesn't make sense does it? Will someone let her know? Now for the informed Open Source comment. Last I checked our workers are hired and taxes are paid by companies who make money. MySQL makes less than most small businesses. It is sad the former employees believe they are worth more because of the inflated price Sun paid for them.
Posted by: McClain 09 Dec 2009