Case | HBS Case Collection | 2010 (Revised from original 2010 version)

The EC Rains on Oracle/Sun

by Lena G. Goldberg

Abstract

Oracle's proposed acquisition of Sun was on a fast track until the EC's antitrust concerns about open-source MySQL ignited a transatlantic war of words delaying the deal. Sun's performance suffered and its customers were approached by competitors while regulatory objections were debated and tensions rose between U.S. and EC regulators.

Keywords: Mergers and Acquisitions; Multinational Firms and Management; Governing Rules, Regulations, and Reforms; International Relations; Laws and Statutes; Monopoly; Business and Government Relations; Technology Industry; European Union; United States;

Citation:

Goldberg, Lena G. "The EC Rains on Oracle/Sun." Harvard Business School Case 310-086, March 2010. (Revised from original February 2010 version.)