Oracle has officially accepted MySQL commitments

Oracle published a press release in which it made official promises regarding the policy for the further development of the MySQL project. The submitted list of commitments takes into account all the wishes voiced by representatives of the European Commission and representatives of the independent community of MySQL developers.

In response, the European Commission published a statement in which it approved the Oracle step and is now optimistic about the possibility of a positive consideration of the transaction. Let me remind you that today there will be a meeting of the European Commission at which a decision will be made concerning the approval or prohibition of the transaction on the purchase of Oracle by Sun Microsystems. The decision can be made today or within 2 weeks.

Oracle promises:

• Make improvements to MySQL in the future, including the development of the MySQL 6 branch, by opening the code under the GPL license. Moreover, Oracle is committed to not releasing a commercial version of MySQL Enterprise Edition without simultaneously releasing the free edition of MySQL Community Edition. A promise was also made not to impose any additional restrictions on the distribution of source texts;
  Strengthen the activity of development and research related to the development of MySQL. Oracle promises to provide adequate funding to continue the development of MySQL, exceeding the current cash infusion into the project;
  
• Preserve the availability of the API for developing and connecting external repositories that are developed and maintained by third-party organizations and developer communities;
  Remove current restrictions to distribute external storage under a GPL license or purchase a commercial license. From now on, it will be possible to develop external extensions to MySQL without additional conditions. But the current MySQL OEM agreement, under which customers purchase a commercial license from Sun, will be active until its expiration date in December 2014;
  Do not impose mandatory support services on customers; users will have the right to refuse to purchase a subscription to technical support when purchasing a commercial license for MySQL Enterprise Edition;
  Establish an independent supervisory board of MySQL users - Customer Advisory Board to address strategic issues that are important for MySQL users, control and identify key development priorities;
  
• Establish a supervisory board of representatives of additional storage developers for MySQL - the Storage Engine Vendor Advisory Board, to resolve issues related to the development of external add-ons;
  Continue maintaining up-to-date MySQL manuals, maintain high-quality documentation and its free distribution;
  Save current conditions when providing technical support service.
  

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