The ongoing MySQL campaign

Posted Jan 3, 2010 20:58 UTC (Sun) by hingo (guest, #14792)
In reply to: The ongoing MySQL campaign by jjs
Parent article: The ongoing MySQL campaign

About (1), you are correct about "proprietary". The non-GPL license was commonly called either "OEM license" or "commercial license" at MySQL/Sun. Apparently I still use it sometimes, but I'm aware it is incorrect.

About the other comments, I have explained elsewhere in this thread why I don't believe the FOSS part and the proprietary part of the MySQL universe are separate universes unaffected by each other. But this is of course something you can disagree with - the issue is not as clear cut as it is for the users of the proprietary MySQL version. And unless the EU steps in - it is something we will eventually find out. Can we at least agree that the need to fork any FOSS project is always an undesirable state to be in, regardless of license?

True. Monty Program has a business model that is based on the GPL version of our MySQL fork. (The company was created before the Oracle acquisition.) We just want people to understand that this cannot help all MySQL users and we are not trying to do that (which Oracle suggested to the EU). No, we don't want MySQL back and certainly couldn't afford it. But we would like MySQL to continue on the path it was, including competing against Oracle and providing Oracle users a free/low-cost alternative.

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The ongoing MySQL campaign

Posted Jan 4, 2010 3:54 UTC (Mon) by jjs (guest, #10315) [Link]

No, we can't agree. Forking is one of the checks. ecgs, x, xfree86. All benefitted from the fork.

Also, you didn't explain, you rationalized. I'll repeat - Monty (who sold his right to sell proprietary versions of MySQL to Sun for a large amount of money) has requested EU force Oracle to provide him that ability without compensation. He has shown why it is in HIS interest. He has not shown it is the interest of any customers of MySQL right now. I Repeat - how do you KNOW what they need? I've heard you & Monty lay out why YOU think it should be that. I have seen 0 (zero) from current mySQL customers complaining or worrying about it. You DON'T speak for them - they are NOT your customers. Name one current MySQL customer who has told you they are worried or will be harmed.

Monty does NOT have a business model based on the the GPL version - otherwise why would he be trying to get the right to sell proprietary licenses? His model has ALWAYS been based on proprietary code. I'm not arguing with that - his business. But don't try to claim that's not what it is. If his business model was based on the GPL version, he CURRENTLY has full rights to the support the GPL software. He just can't take it proprietary.

You state you can't afford to by MySQL back. So why should EU force Oracle to GIVE you the code? If there is a concern (which I disagree with), why should Oracle not be forced to sell the code? The fact that YOU can't afford it doesn't mean someone else can't.

Sorry, but it continues to look like you and Monty want the EU to set you up in business without paying any costs. That's not the government's job. If you can't develop a business plan that makes money without such extortion (I use that word deliberatly), maybe you need to rethink your business plans.