Felipe Gaucho's Blog

Are you prepared to choose the next JDK license?

A lot of excitement these days about the SUN plan of releasing part of the Java Technology as Open Source Software (OSS) for the next few months. Reading the news I've observed the key discussion for now is about the license to be adopted by SUN to release its technologies. It is not a simple decision and, besides the public discussion about the best licenses, there is SUN needs to protect its commercial interests and the relationship with its partners and clients.

After several years participating of both communities - Java and OSS - I have a feeling that Java developers are not much worried about the JDK license because we have ever used Java without any restrictions anyway - even the code was always available for reading and learning. On the other side, the Open Source community members are serious thinkers about what is a license and what is its impact in the software industry, specially in the Linux world.

Who knows what is the best license for new OSS projects?

The answer for this complex question could be: ask the leaders of the OSS movement. Who? There is no one name, but the crowd becomes more calm with the endorsment of persons like Richard Stallman, Eben Moglen, David Turner and others. These proeminent researchers and founders of the Open Source movement don't have all the answers, but at least they can give a special cue about the good choice to the new JKD license. It is not a technical requirement, of course SUN can take decisions without any external interference, but it is a confluence decision. Any independent decision taken by SUN will be hard received with a lot of criticism and fear from the open source community because they have a historical dissatisfaction against current Java licenses.

I don't know how SUN is internally dealing with this question about licenses, I believe in the company and I am sure people are doing the best for the future of Java anyway. If I may put my two cents in, I suggest the idea of including the leaders of the Open Source world close to the discussions - for the good of everyone.

Comments

• folks may be interested in this forum:

  http://forums.java.net/jive/forum.jspa?forumID=97

  which is about discussing the plans to Open up Java. And according to a sun engineer who posted there, the people who make the decisions do read the threads.

  As to the big wigs you've listed, I would hope the desires of the Java community would trump any one of their particular Open Source license bents. This doesn't mean that they shouldn't be included in the/a dialog, its just that they shouldn't be the only source of opinion.

  leouser

  Posted by: leouser on August 17, 2006 at 05:03 PM

• Having had the privilige of discussing this matter at length with the above three individuals, several times, I can tell you their recommendation with great certainty. With Richard, unlike nearly all of us, there is no "gray area" on this topic, his opinions have always been completely consistent. (after you get used to it, it's really rather impressive)

  For things like the Java compiler, JVM, JIT, and such that would pose no licensing restrictions on the applications using them, they would recommend the GPL, unqestionably. (personally I agree that it would be a great decision)

  I am sure you would find that IBM would then contribute a lot of their very best, most expensive code, much as they did for Linux; secure in knowing that it could never be made into a proprietary product.

  The runtime environments pose a dilemma however. Naturally, Richard would like them to be GPL also. However, Eben understands the most significant implication well; namely that all applications using the runtimes would themselves legally have to be GPL. Now Richard of course would have no problem with this. However, Eben would sagely counsel that people who insist on developing proprietary applications would simply use the other GPL components, then switch to a runtime that did not require them to distribute their products freely. Given that this would prop up proprietary libraries; Richard would grudgingly agree to licensing under the LGPL, but solely to prevent this from happening. (and I also think that would be a very good idea)

  Of course there are still hard feelings between James Gosling and Richard Stallman from a long time ago. While I am not sure how much influence James has on Java anymore, I would suspect that out of spite, he would argue against this, even knowing it would be the best for the platform.

  IMHO of course,

  John

  PS By the way, to point out something for which Richard would harshly berate you; he is not involved in 'Open Source' in any way. He is the leader of the older, original, Free Software movement. The issues above highlight some of the significant differences in philosophy.

  Posted by: cajo on August 17, 2006 at 05:19 PM

• I was curious about FSF and the CDDL and came across this:

  Common Development and Distribution License (CDDL)

  This is a free software license which is not a strong copyleft; it has some complex restrictions that make it incompatible with the GNU GPL. It requires that all attribution notices be maintained, while the GPL only requires certain types of notices. Also, it terminates in retaliation for certain aggressive uses of patents. So, a module covered by the GPL and a module covered by the CDDL cannot legally be linked together. We urge you not to use the CDDL for this reason.

  Also unfortunate in the CDDL is its use of the term "intellectual property".

  I have not been able to find an FSF position on CDDL and LGPL.
  -JohnR

  Posted by: johnreynolds on August 18, 2006 at 09:26 AM

• Just one correction. RMS himself has said "I am not an advocate of Open Source". He's an advocate for Free Software, not OSS. Someone accidentally introduced him as an advocate of OSS, and RMS ran up on the stage, interupting and correcting him.

  OSS and Free software are two quite different movements.

  I would list ESR and Bruce Perens as the leading OSS advocates. See http://opensource.org/docs/board.php

  Posted by: atripp on August 22, 2006 at 01:05 PM

• I hope that they do not license the JDK under the GPL. The GPL is not a one size fits all license, and this isn't the best choice for this situation.

  -Nick

  Posted by: npavlica on November 07, 2006 at 10:25 PM

• the license situation now:
  http://weblogs.java.net/blog/felipegaucho/archive/2006/08/are_you_prepare_1.html

  Posted by: esac on November 08, 2006 at 02:31 PM

• ops http://software.newsforge.com/software/06/05/24/1154233.shtml?tid=150

  Posted by: esac on November 08, 2006 at 02:32 PM

• The subject of a very wonderful and distinct
  I thank you for continuing excellence
  Thank you

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  Posted by: libyan on May 30, 2008 at 03:20 PM

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