Oracle responds to the growing popularity of open source

Oct 17, 2005: Oracle has announced its acquisition of the Finnish Innobase, developer of discrete transactional database technology InnoDB.

Distributed under an open source license, InnoDB is not a standalone product as it is distributed as part of the MySQL database. MySQL is one of a number of smaller companies opting for open source licenses in a bid to take on larger suppliers, a strategy that looks to be having some impact with Microsoft, Oracle and IBM all lowering their database prices.

Oracle's acquisition however, is interesting due to its competitive relationship with MySQL. InnoDB is a key part of MySQL's database, so the move could be seen as a move by Oracle to undermine competition, although a more popular view, and one Oracle seems intent on pursuing is that it is aiming to expand its business into the open source market.

"Oracle has long been a supporter of open source software such as Linux and Apache," said Charles Rozwat, Oracle's Executive Vice President in charge of Database and Middleware Technology. "Oracle intends to continue developing the InnoDB technology and expand our commitment to open source software."

To further support its apparent embracing of open source software Rozwat added: "Oracle has already developed and contributed an open source clustered file system to Linux. We expect to make additional contributions in the future."

Oracles intentions may be a tad murky, however InnoDB's contract with MySQL is up next year and Oracle has said it expects to negotiate an extension of that relationship.

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