Re: [GENERAL] Oracle buys Innobase

Jeff Davis <jdavis-pgsql@empires.org>

From: Jeff Davis <jdavis-pgsql@empires.org>
To: Chris Travers <chris@metatrontech.com>
Cc: PostgreSQL advocacy <pgsql-advocacy@postgresql.org>
Date: 2005-10-16T16:48:01Z
Lists: pgsql-general
> The only real downside is that I could see MySQL developing a 
> FirebirdSQL table handler if too much pressure is put on them.  This 
> might actually work OK since Firebird has an embeddable engine.  If they 
> do this then Oracle might end up with basically the personnel from the 
> Innobase acquisition and very little else.  Of course MySQL has 
> progressed to the point where larger license fees might not alienate too 
> many customers.
> 

Does the FirebirdSQL license allow MySQL AB to embed firebird and then 
sell it commercially? Does any one entity own the copyright to 
FirebirdSQL so that they could dual license it to MySQL AB?

If not, what's the advantage to MySQL using FirebirdSQL as opposed to, 
say, PostgreSQL?

And as someone mentioned in a related comment, what does MySQL bring to 
the table? Everyone would know that MySQL DB was really just FirebirdSQL 
with a different frontend. The PR would be devestating to MySQL AB. Not 
quite as bad as if they used PostgreSQL, but still bad.

Regards,
	Jeff Davis