Sun Microsystems, which acquired Open Source database firm MySQL in January [1], has apparently found the key to unlocking their plans to make some MySQL features commercial-only: torch-wielding users.

Word emerged last month that Sun/MySQL was considering limiting "advanced" features like encryption and backup compression to commercial customers [2], departing from MySQL's traditional stance of producing wholly-open software. Former MySQL, now Sun, execs swore the plan had been in place long before the buyout, but we — and a lot of others — thought it was a bit strange that the first word of making MySQL proprietary came three months after being bought by a company that frequently mixes open and closed technology.

The news was met with outrage from users, and apparently their voices were heard, as the company has done an abrupt about-face, with Community Relations VP Kaj Arnӧ declaring on the company's blog that MySQL "will always remain fully functional and open source" [3] along with its connectors and storage engines. He specifically set out that in MySQL 6.0 — the version with the planned proprietary features — the backup, encryption, and compression features would be Open Source, abandoning the proposal to close them. The comments — which were peppered liberally with words like openness and change in bold — went on to re-iterate the earlier line about the change being hatched prior to Sun's buyout, and speaking about the need for commercial add-ons to support Open Source development.

While we're glad to see the change in Sun/MySQL's position about MySQL 6.0, the very last paragraph hints that this is merely a temporary respite, and that the proprietary push will be back. "[E]xpect Sun/MySQL to continue experimenting with the business model, and with what’s offered for the community and what’s offered commercial-only. We won’t always know the right answer..." Allow us to offer a bit of advice: When it comes to Open Source projects, locking the doors is rarely the answer.
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Justin Ryan [4] is News Editor [5] for LinuxJournal.com.
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