LogoWatch MySQL swims with the dolphins

Hippies hijack cetecean and save the planet

By Lester Haines • Get more from this author

Posted in Bootnotes, 1st August 2001 09:38 GMT

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You know how it is - let a dotcom yuppie off the lead and before you know it they're running round naked hugging trees and re-aligning the corporate logo to more adequately match the child within.

At some stage this naturally involves a dolphin. What dolphins know about the Internet can be written on the back of a very small piece of kelp. Does MySQL care? It does not - because it is, make no mistake, going to save the planet with its new logo:

We're proud to present the new MySQL logo - a jumping dolphin - symbolizing the speed, power, precision and good nature of the MySQL database and community.

"We've been discussing a new logo for at least a year", says main developer and MySQL AB founder Michael "Monty" Widenius. "I am personally concerned about the survival of endangered species, and I liked the idea of the dolphin as soon as it came up. It combines great symbol value with a powerful, modern design."

A year well spent, you'll agree. However, Monty and his mates have not forgotten that they live in shark-infested waters:

The dolphin logo and the word "MySQL" are trademarks of MySQL AB, the company that develops, supports and markets the MySQL database server worldwide. A trademark policy is currently being written and will be published presently as a guide to third party use of the MySQL trademarks.

There's nothing quite as refreshing as a hippy who's come out of the teepee and fully embraced litigation. Dances with Writs? Get me Kevin Cosner on the phone...

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