PlanetScale drops DeWitt clause, now allows public database benchmarking

Database company PlanetScale has removed the restrictive 'DeWitt clause' from its Acceptable Use Policy, replacing it with a new section that explicitly permits public benchmarking of its services. DeWitt clauses, named after database researcher David DeWitt, are terms used by many cloud vendors to prohibit or limit comparative benchmarking by customers or third parties. Under the updated policy, users may conduct and publish benchmark results, provided the methodology is fair, transparent, and reproducible, and that PlanetScale is given enough information to replicate the tests. The company has also published benchmarking best practices to guide engineers, citing common pitfalls such as 'benchmarketing' and gaps in technical knowledge. PlanetScale is now calling on other vendors to adopt similar open benchmarking standards, arguing that customers deserve the ability to compare the infrastructure options available to them.