Java problem

Gene Heskett gene.heskett at verizon.net
Sun Dec 30 20:16:45 UTC 2007


On Sunday 30 December 2007, Rahul Sundaram wrote:
>Les Mikesell wrote:
>> The bigger problem is distributing something that is not java compatable
>>  but executing it with the java name.  Microsoft tried to promote an
>> incompatible program that similarly fit their agenda with the java name
>> and Sun successfully sued them over it.  The fedora-shipped not-java
>> program that executes with the java name does just as much damage and
>> shouldn't be named java until it passes the compatibility tests.  I'm
>> surprised fedora's legal dept. allowed this abuse of a trademarked name.
>
>That's because trademark does not apply to filenames. Sun doesn't
>consider classpath or GCJ as damage to Java in any way and has even used
>the same license classpath originally had for their new openjdk effort.
>IcedTea is a free and open source derivative of OpenJDK and included in
>Fedora 8 by default and Sun has continued to use that as a prototype to
>remove the binary encumbrances in their code. Once OpenJDK becomes
>completely open source, Fedora will include that by default.
>
>Besides a compatible version of Java requires signing a test suite which
>until recently came with onerous restrictions that has been lifted and
>paved the way to better compatibility.
>
>http://www.press.redhat.com/2007/11/05/red-hat-helps-advance-open-source-jav
>a/
>
>Rahul

Excellent news, Rahul.  Unforch not in time for F8, F9 maybe?

-- 
Cheers, Gene
"There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty:
 soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order."
-Ed Howdershelt (Author)
There can be no twisted thought without a twisted molecule.
		-- R. W. Gerard




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