Oracle affirms commitment to MySQL

Oracle, perhaps looking to put an end to its Sun purchase wranglings, has released a statement in which it talks up the future of the MySQL database - the product at the centre of most of the controversy surrounding the proposed acquistion.

Oracle said that it could publicly commit to a number of conditions, ranging from the continued availability of APIs, including MySQLs Pluggable Storage Engine, to the fact that it will not require third party licences from any firms looking to hook into MySQLs database server. All of it sounds cuddly wuddly, as opposed to proprietary monopoly.

In all it makes ten commitments, and looks to have addressed any or all of the European Commissions concerns. This is not the first time that Oracle has spoken out in its own defence, and indeed earlier this year said that it would invest more in the development of MySQL than Sun had, as it sought to bring an earlier end to the EC's investigations.

"During each of the next three years, Oracle will spend more on research and development (R&D) for the MySQL Global Business Unit than Sun spent in its most recent fiscal year (USD 24 million) preceding the closing of the transaction," Oracle reiterated.

As well as not having to pay annual support costs to Oracle, users will also be able to have an impact on MySQLs development. The firm said that it would create a MySQL Storage Engine Vendor Advisory Board, that will provide guidance and feedback on MySQL development priorities and "other issues of importance to MySQL storage engine vendors". This will be created, and funded, by the firm no less than six months after the deal closes, it explained.

The EC has already said that it is rather happy with all this, with Nellie Kroes, the competition minister vocalising her pleasure at the early discussions. Either way, the EC has until the end of January to make its mind up.

15 Dec 2009