MySQL Steps Up - Forbes.com

"Until recently, big software makers like Oracle--$12 billion in revenue for fiscal 2005--have shrugged off the threat posed by free software rivals like MySQL, which took in a mere $20 million in revenue last year.

But MySQL is becoming too popular to ignore. Plus, hardware companies like Hewlett-Packard (nyse: HPQ - news - people ) and Sun Microsystems (nasdaq: SUNW - news - people ) are throwing their weight behind MySQL. HP is helping customers adopt a 'stack' of open-source programs that include Linux and MySQL, testing them to make sure they work well together, says Martin Fink, vice president of HP's open-source and Linux organization. "

Fighting back, Oracle earlier this month acquired Innobase, an obscure Finnish software maker that provides a key part of MySQL's program. This means that when MySQL needs to renew its Innobase license, it will have to negotiate with Oracle. The acquisition also enables Oracle to introduce its own open-source database, to keep customers from switching to MySQL. Can a plucky little upstart from Sweden really compete against the biggest, meanest software makers in the world? Two years ago it might have seemed crazy. Today it seems inevitable.