MySQL Joins ObjectWeb Open Source Consortium

MySQL to Promote Development of Open Source Enterprise Software as Corporate Member of International Non-Profit Organization

MySQL AB, developer of the world's most popular open source database, today announced that it has joined ObjectWeb, an international not-for-profit consortium created to develop powerful open source alternatives to proprietary business software, with a focus on infrastructure software.

Established in 2002 by Bull, France Telecom and INRIA, ObjectWeb is a community of leading companies, research organizations and individuals who have joined forces to produce the next generation of open source middleware technology. MySQL is joining ObjectWeb as a corporate member to promote open source in business, ensure technology and corporate ties to the middleware industry, and participate in communicating a unified perspective on software intellectual property.

David Axmark, MySQL AB co-founder and vice president of open source relations, said: "Much of MySQL's success is a result of the company's continued strong commitment to open source software and the open source development approach. We welcome the opportunity to join ObjectWeb, along with leading open source companies such as Red Hat, SuSE Linux and MandrakeSoft, to further the development of open source alternatives in mainstream business."

ObjectWeb's goal is to provide enterprises with open source solutions that combine quality and robustness at the best possible price/performance ratio. Based on open standards, ObjectWeb's middleware includes application servers, components, frameworks and tools. MySQL AB will seek to increase ObjectWeb's momentum and will establish relationships with the development teams of major middleware components such as JOnAS - the only operational application server to be tested for compliance with J2EE 1.4; C-JDBC - a JDBC driver for clusters of RDBMS, and JORAM - a message-oriented middleware with JMS and SOAP connectors.

Jean-Pierre Laisne, ObjectWeb's chairman, explains: "MySQL and MaxDB demonstrate everyday the effectiveness of the open source process and now augment RDBMS choices with high-quality, cost-effective database solutions. We welcome MySQL AB to ObjectWeb, which is now the de facto home ground for visionaries dealing with open source software for distributed infrastructures."

ObjectWeb develops a global vision of the open source ecosystem that goes beyond technical matters and encompasses an in-depth understanding of long-term legal and economical issues. MySQL AB shares the position recently expressed by members of the ObjectWeb community against the patentability of software, protocols, file formats and algorithms.

MySQL and Object Web Lead BOF at OSCON

Zack Urlocker, MySQL's vice president of marketing, will jointly moderate a Birds of a Feather (BOF) session with Francois Letellier from ObjectWeb at the O'Reilly Open Source Convention (OSCON). The session is titled "Software Patents, IP and FLOSS: Local and International Stakes," and will be held Thursday, July 29, from 8:00 p.m.- 9:00 p.m. MySQL AB and ObjectWeb also have booths at the convention's exhibit hall, which is open on July 28 and 29.

To learn more about ObjectWeb, please visit www.objectweb.org.

About MySQL AB

MySQL AB develops and markets a family of high performance, affordable database servers and tools. The company's flagship product is MySQL, the world's most popular open source database, with more than 5 million active installations. Many of the world's largest organizations, including Yahoo!, Sabre Holdings, Cox Communications, The Associated press and NASA, are realizing significant cost savings using MySQL to power Web sites, business-critical enterprise applications and packaged software. MySQL AB is a second generation open source company, with dual licensing that supports open source values and methodology in a profitable, sustainable business. For more information about MySQL, please go to www.mysql.com.

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MySQL is a registered trademark of MySQL AB in the U.S. and in other countries. Other products mentioned are the trademarks of their respective corporations.