Sun Pours Out Java Cup

[James Wilkinson]

Les Mikesell wrote:
> Did they retain control of the language spec?  If not, how long will
> it be before MS rolls out yet another version with single-platform
> extensions and breaks portability again?

I understand that:

 * yes, Sun retains control of the Java trademark, in the same way that
   Red Hat retains control of the Fedora trademark and Mozilla retains
   control of the Firefox trademark;

 * Sun also retains control of the Java Community Process that defines
   the language spec, and implementations that are not compliant are not
   allowed to call themselves Java;
 
 * there is *no* reason why Fedora, Microsoft or anyone else couldn't
   develop derivatives that work in whatever way they choose, as long as
   they don't call it Java;

 * but they will obviously have to make the source code available under
   the terms of the GNU General Public License, *or* negotiate another
   license with Sun.

 * Before Sun will accept outside contributions, they will want
   contributors to sign over enough rights for Sun to relicense the code
   as they please. (The contributors will retain the same rights).

James.

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