Dear SAP DB community, With the commencement of a new partnership between MySQL AB and SAP AG, we at MySQL would like to briefly outline our approach to business, community relations and our company culture - the aspects of MySQL AB that most clearly define us. We welcome any thoughts you have and will always strive to make ourselves available to you.
We employ a dual-licensing business model. MySQL AB is true to the GPL - we subscribe to the free software philosophy, as well as to the related (but not identical) open source philosophy. We want to expand the universe of free software published under the GPL, and all of the software we publish is released under the GPL. MySQL AB also offers a commercial license option for organizations that do not want to be bound by the terms of the GPL. We are able to provide this option because MySQL AB has full ownership of the MySQL code. This pragmatic solution allows MySQL to be used in a broad range of situations and environments. We are able to behave as a traditional business to traditional businesses, while still participating in the broad open source community and contributing to the body of free software that is available. MySQL AB's dual licensing structure supports its user community with a sustainable business model, and this community, in turn, is the engine behind the company's commercial business. We are a company striving for profit, just as SAP AG is. However, in contrast to SAP, our main source of income is databases. Our company values also play a key role in defining MySQL AB. At the very bottom of http://www.mysql.com/company/ you can see our "Core Company Values": We want the MySQL server to be: - The best and the most used database in the world - Available and affordable for all - Easy to use - Continuously improved while remaining fast and safe - Fun to use and improve - Free from bugs When building up our relations with the SAP DB community, we want to exercise the same values that grew the MySQL community. We are interested in your opinions, we are interested in working together, and we are interested in the long-term viability of free and open source software. In the last few days, valid concerns have been raised about the possible negative effects of the agreement between SAP and MySQL. Over the next few weeks, we will be working on addressing these concerns. As we work on these issues, we hope to have constructive feedback from the SAP DB community. Please send your feedback directly to Zak Greant <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. Our belief is that you, the SAP DB community, and we, MySQL AB, together can grow the SAP DB market from the foundations laid by SAP and its predecessors. Should you wish to approach us in person, there are three persons to primarily choose from: Zak Greant is MySQL Community Advocate, main MySQL AB contact towards all Free Software / Open Source communities. A native of Canada. Kaj Arn� is Vice President at MySQL AB, part of the negotiation team with SAP AG, and the MySQL Management Team contact towards SAP. A native of Finland, based now in M�nchen, approachable also in German. Patrik Backman is Partnership Manager, main MySQL AB contact towards SAP. A native of Finland, approachable also in German. All of us can be reached, respectively, at [EMAIL PROTECTED] (i.e. [EMAIL PROTECTED]). We welcome your opinion! Best regards, The SAP DB team of MySQL AB _______________________________________________ sapdb.general mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://listserv.sap.com/mailman/listinfo/sapdb.general
