WSJ: EU likes Oracle's MySQL statement; poised to approve deal

The European Union is more receptive to Oracle's acquisition of Sun, now that Oracle has outlined some details on how it plans to preserve mySQL - a concern and sticking point for European regulators who have been holding up the acquisition.

Sources tell the Wall Street Journal that regulators reacted positively to a Monday announcement by Oracle that addressed the EU's concerns. Approval by the EU is the last big hurdle for Oracle and Sun before the deal can be finalized. The U.S. has already given its blessing. The Journal reports:

Oracle Monday made 10 pledges, none of which entails any legal separation of MySQL. Among them is an offer that, for five years, Oracle won't change its contracts with resellers who package MySQL. Another says that customers of the commercial version of MySQL don't have to buy support from Oracle. Others are vague, or picayune: One commitment promises to "increase" research and development spending. In another, the company vows to "continue to maintain, update and make available" MySQL's user manual "for download at no charge."

The company said it would "continue to enhance" MySQL and would release future versions under an open-source license, according to the WSJ. Some critics have called for a full spin-off of MySQL but Oracle has refused to do that.

The EU has extended its deadline for reviewing Sun-Oracle to January 27.

Also see: Oracle: EC has 'profound misunderstanding' of database market; DOJ seems to agree