1 Million dollars for a T-shirt

Looking at MySQL contributor agreement I can’t help but thinking FOSS contributors are considered pretty poorly by the industry. Keep in mind, MySQL has been bought by SUN for a whooping $1B. So assuming that some 1,000 guys contributed to the bulk of the code, guess what “feature contributors” are rewarded with nowadays?

If you answered $1M ($1B / 1,000 = $1M a pop!) you’ve lost. But don’t worry, MySQL is generous, kinda ...   in the same way past  century explorers were generous with indigenous nations. Judge by yourself:

At the sole discretion of MySQL, you will get to choose 2 (and only 2 you cheater!) of the following items:

• a currently available title from the MySQL Press as then-listed on their site
• a discount of US $100 off the applicable fee for attending a MySQL training class or user conference sponsored by MySQL
• a MySQL branded shirt
• a donation of US $100 to the Free Software Foundation.

 

Who needs outsourcing when you can do fancy-goods trade instead?

 

Comments

[Greg]

Yeah, that was a pretty big backhand. Though how it is worded makes it seem like they will award a prize per contribution per person rather than a 1-off, and if it is of importance you can bargain with them in 8.4 for something more substantial (per contribution).

[Pete Wright]

Seriously sucks doesn't it.