Re: Sun buys MySQL

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On Wed, 16 Jan 2008 23:04:41 -0500
Ron Peterson <ron(dot)peterson(at)yellowbank(dot)com> wrote:

> > You realize that a corporation is able to donate money any time
> > they want?
>
> Really? I didn't know that. :)

http://www.postgresql.org/about/donate

It is 501c3 and everything.

>
> My suspicion is that most corporations don't believe such donations
> would have the same benefit to the corporation as an outright
> purchase.

Same benefit? No. Still a benefit? yes.

>
> Sun, for example, can now claim to be _the_ definitive provider of
> MySQL support services, rather than merely being one of many
> sponsors. That is the return on their investment. There are plenty
> of PHB's who want so-called "enterprise" support, and who will pay
> good money for it. Where should they buy that support for MySQL?
> Sun, of course.

Well sure, and all those PHBs can also buy "enterprise" support from
Command Prompt (and several new ones do every month). Heck they can
even buy from EnterpriseDB. Enterprise is in the name for goodness
sake ;)

>
> A purchase gives Sun a certain exclusivity that they could never buy
> with a mere donation.
>

I don't argue that it is an interesting strategic move for Sun. They
paid entirely too much but that isn't really relevant for us.

What is important as that all this is going to do is invigorate our
community further. I guarantee you we will start to see even more
influx of new community members with this purchase.

Sincerely,

Joshua D. Drake

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