Oracle makes concessions to EC over Sun acquisition

Oracle has made a series of concessions designed to end its stand-off with the European Commission over its acquistion of Sun Microsystems.

The EC has blocked its move to acquire Sun over fears about the future competitiveness of MySQL database software.

Oracle filed the pledges with the EU yesterday to give the regulator time to decide whether the deal, struck in April, will be given the green light by the 27 January deadline.

In a statement issued last night, Oracle said it had "engaged in constructive discussions with the European Commission" to assuage concerns, in particular the "maintenance of MySQL as a competitive force in the database market."

Among the offers made, Oracle said it will extend current MySQL OEM agreements with storage suppliers till the end of 2014 and customers will not be required to buy Oracle support services as a pre-requisite to obtaining a license to MySQL.

In addition, Oracle has vowed to make the source code for all versions of Community Edition available to developers at no charge, release new versions of the open source edition when it updates the commercial software and up R&D dollars.

"During each of the next three years, Oracle will spend more on research and development for the MySQL Global Business Unit than Sun spent in its most recent fiscal year ($24m) preceding the closing of the transaction," the firm said.

In response, Neelie Kroes, European Commission Competition Commissioner said she was "optimistic" that the case would have a "satisfactory outcome" and the acquisition would not hinder competition in the European database market.

Oracle calls on customers to win EC support for Sun