Java and patents
Patent risk questions have arisen around Java programming language in the wake of Oracle's 2010 lawsuit against Google.
The situation is a little complicated, but there are pieces of good news.
Contents
OpenJDK: the GPLv2 Java from Oracle
OpenJDK is has been distributed by Oracle under GPLv2. GPLv2 includes two implicit patent licences, so users of OpenJDK should be safe, and modified versions of OpenJDK should also be safe (even if they're heavily modified).
The protections in the GPL are unconditional. The software doesn't have to comply with any specifications in order to benefit from these protections.
The Java Language Specification grant
This is a patent grant from Oracle, but only for implementations of Java that fully comply with the Java Language Specification. Supersets, subsets, and other modified versions don't qualify for this patent protectoin.
Open Invention Network
Oracle is a member of Open Invention Network (OIN). OIN gives protection to a list of free software programs which includes the following Java-related packages:[1]
- libgcj
- GCC
- Eclipse Compiler for Java (ejc)
SCO's Java patent
SCO, during bankruptcy, put a Java patent (called "Perk-Up" in some documents) up for sale.[2] Groklaw reported that it was due to be sold to Allied Security Trust (AST).[3] Can you help? Did the sale go ahead?
AST usually buys patents, licenses them to their members, and then sells them on. If AST sells this patent on, there could be a risk for everyone that isn't a member of AST.
Related pages on ESP Wiki
External links
- AST expected to buy Java patents for $100,000, Groklaw, 16 Apr 2010
