Monty tries to prevent MySQL going to Oracle

Sam Varghese
Sunday, 13 December 2009 21:19

Opinion and Analysis

One of the founders of MySQL, Monty Widenius, has launched a campaign to try and prevent the EU from agreeing to the acquisition of Sun Microsystems by Oracle Corporation.


The EU has launched an investigation into the acquisition as it believes that if Oracle controls MySQL than it would be too powerful in the database market.

MySQL is the most widely used open source database.

Oracle denies this and, after two days of hearings by the EU, appears to be confident that its case will prevail. The US Justice Department has already given the green light to the sale.

Widenius launched his appeal a day ago. He has asked those who want "save MyQL from Oracle's clutches" to write to the European Commission and "help secure the future development of the product MySQL as an Open Source project."

MySQL was founded by Widenius, David Axmark and Allan Larsson in 1995. The company was sold to Sun in 2008 and Widenius joined Sun, only to leave in February this year. In April, Oracle acquired Sun.

The EU launched its investigation last month and has to reach a decision by January 19.

Widenius, who has already forked the MySQL code into a project called MariaDB, is of the opinion that MySQL will not continue to be a competitive force if Oracle owns it, as it is a direct competitor with Oracle.