At 3:10 AM -0400 7/14/01, Britt Johnston wrote:
>Well, what a mess. It is regretable that this legal issue
>needs to be aired so publically that was certainly not my
>preference. I also will not get into a flame war, it is
>not in the best interest of mysql. I appreciate all the
>email I've received with advice and/or support - thanks.
>
>It is important that everyone realize that there is a legal
>agreement that both Monty and David personally signed that
>provides NuSphere broad rights around the use of the MySQL
>name. That agreement also allows NuSphere to release MySQL
>under the GPL license forever and print and distribute the
>manual. We paid significant money to Monty and David in
>exchange for that agreement which was central to forming
>NuSphere. This is public record.
>
>Please consider these facts when you try to understand
>NuSphere's rights and motivations - we actually worked hard
>to get the details in writing before we even started the
>company and we paid real money. It is under this agreement
>that we believe we have a clear right to use mysql.org.
>
>Now it appears there is a need by MySQL AB to characterize
>that agreement as no longer in effect - I hope you can respect
>the fact that NuSphere believes it is fully in effect and we
>wish to continue to abide by it. This is the central issue
>and public debate will not resolve it.
>
>As far as mysql.org goes, what NuSphere would like to see is a
>non-profit organization running that site - we have been consistent
>in this desire for over a year, but it has been opposed by Monty
>and David. I discussed this with Monty as recently as a few weeks
>ago in June and July and as always he was not interested - I
>appreciate he is entitled to that opinion as I am entitled to
>believe that it is time to take this step in the MySQL community.
>I invite all those who are skeptical to join mysql.org and be part
>of its formation.
>
>[BTW, the first community action was to get rid of the registration
>requirement at the site - it is no longer required for downloading
>files rather it is a membership registration only now.]
>
>As far as NuSphere's contribution to MySQL, it is disappointing to
>see our efforts discounted so quickly. At a minimum there are
>specific bug fixes, features, and language statements focused
>around transaction support in the server that are in MySQL due
>to NuSphere's efforts in cooperation with Monty. The Gemini table
>handler itself is already part of MySQL and is licensed under the
>GPL - go find ha_gemini.cc and you will see it we checked it in long
>ago in V4 and again in 3.23 when V4 was late. The Gemini component itself
>will be released via mysql.org as GPL as previously
>announced - note that Gemini itself is not a derivative of MySQL in
>any way - it's roots date back to long before MySQL existed.
>
>Finally independent of the rest of this. I have the highest respect
>for Monty and what he has done creating MySQL. I'm certain we can
>move beyond this and make MySQL an even stronger open source project
>and I encourage everyone move to a constructive dialog.
>
>Britt
>--
>
>D. Britton Johnston 603-578-6707 Nashua
>Chief Technology Officer 781-280-4954 Bedford
>NuSphere Corporation 781-280-4600 Main
>14 Oak Park 781-280-4646 Fax
>Bedford, MA 01730 www.nusphere.com
>
>
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