Oracle Chief Executive Larry Ellison has complained publicly that the European Commission's hold up of the merger is costing Sun roughly $100 million per month, due to uncertainty among its customers.
Oracle is expected to present an argument at the hearing in Brussels along the lines of statements made previously - that its technology is distinct from MySQL, and that it couldn't squelch the development of MySQL, even if it wanted to.
"It is well understood by those knowledgeable about open-source software that because MySQL is open source, it cannot be controlled by anyone," Oracle said in a statement issued in November. "That is the whole point of open source."
Unlike proprietary software, open-source technology can be freely altered by outside developers, who share their innovations with a larger community.
An Oracle spokeswoman declined to comment.
The European Commission issued a statement of objections to Oracle's planned merger with Sun in November. EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes said publicly on Wednesday that she's "optimistic that we can reach a satisfactory outcome that will ensure that there is no adverse impact on effective competition in the European market."
U.S. antitrust regulators cleared the merger between Oracle and Sun in August.
A group of 59 U.S. Senators has written to the European Commission, urging it to speed up its decision-making on the matter.
Oracle is expected to present an argument at the hearing in Brussels along the lines of statements made previously - that its technology is distinct from MySQL, and that it couldn't squelch the development of MySQL, even if it wanted to.
"It is well understood by those knowledgeable about open-source software that because MySQL is open source, it cannot be controlled by anyone," Oracle said in a statement issued in November. "That is the whole point of open source."
Unlike proprietary software, open-source technology can be freely altered by outside developers, who share their innovations with a larger community.
An Oracle spokeswoman declined to comment.
The European Commission issued a statement of objections to Oracle's planned merger with Sun in November. EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes said publicly on Wednesday that she's "optimistic that we can reach a satisfactory outcome that will ensure that there is no adverse impact on effective competition in the European market."
U.S. antitrust regulators cleared the merger between Oracle and Sun in August.
A group of 59 U.S. Senators has written to the European Commission, urging it to speed up its decision-making on the matter.
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