Apache's Ongoing Licensing Bout with Sun
The recently updated Java Specification Requests (JSRs) show that the licensing battle between the Apache Software Foundation and Sun Microsystems (the force behind Java) still hasn't ended after raging for seven years.
Sun's table of JSR reviews per company show nice little green check
marks next to Google, Fujitsu, HP and many others. Apache is the only one marked with a big red X. The vote log for Apache includes the statement,
"Apache must regretfully vote 'No' for JSR-316, as we contend that the spec lead - Sun Microsystems - is not complying with the JSPA [Java Specification
Participation Agreement] with respect to Java SE TCK [Technology Compatibility Kit] licensing. We believe that members of the JCP [Java Community Process] that do not comply with the letter and spirit of the governing rules should not be allowed to lead JSRs." The Java Community Process is a collaborative wherein participating developers and organizations decide about the further development of the Java programming language.
Apache Harmony, an Apache Software Foundation (ASF) project, is tasked to address any disharmony with Open Source Java SE. Developers have been
complaining that the test kit license for Java SE didn't meet the principles of free software and was too restrictive in its usage. According to the ASF,
Harmony has been using the Apache license instead of the General Public License (GPL) and the Java Compatibility Kit (JCK) license should be made
compatible. The first public complaints in this regard go as far back as 2002.
At least some parts of the Java community are pretty annoyed. The JavaLobby blog from Irish developer James Sugrue looks into the reason for the conflict and ends, "With the OpenJDK available
anyway, does Harmony still have a place in the community?" Other commentators have been looking for solutions. Red Hat, for example,
supplemented its "yes" vote with the comment, "in the future, for any submitted JSR (by Sun Microsystems or not), we will specifically expect the
spec lead to provide clear information on that aspect and take the answer in account when casting our vote."
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you've found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
The GNU Project Celebrates Its 40th Birthday
September 27 marks the 40th anniversary of the GNU Project, and it was celebrated with a hacker meeting in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland.
-
Linux Kernel Reducing Long-Term Support
LTS support for the Linux kernel is about to undergo some serious changes that will have a considerable impact on the future.
-
Fedora 39 Beta Now Available for Testing
For fans and users of Fedora Linux, the first beta of release 39 is now available, which is a minor upgrade but does include GNOME 45.
-
Fedora Linux 40 to Drop X11 for KDE Plasma
When Fedora 40 arrives in 2024, there will be a few big changes coming, especially for the KDE Plasma option.
-
Real-Time Ubuntu Available in AWS Marketplace
Anyone looking for a Linux distribution for real-time processing could do a whole lot worse than Real-Time Ubuntu.
-
KSMBD Finally Reaches a Stable State
For those who've been looking forward to the first release of KSMBD, after two years it's no longer considered experimental.
-
Nitrux 3.0.0 Has Been Released
The latest version of Nitrux brings plenty of innovation and fresh apps to the table.
-
Linux From Scratch 12.0 Now Available
If you're looking to roll your own Linux distribution, the latest version of Linux From Scratch is now available with plenty of updates.
-
Linux Kernel 6.5 Has Been Released
The newest Linux kernel, version 6.5, now includes initial support for two very exciting features.
-
UbuntuDDE 23.04 Now Available
A new version of the UbuntuDDE remix has finally arrived with all the updates from the Deepin desktop and everything that comes with the Ubuntu 23.04 base.