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Authored by: PJ on Sunday, May 20 2012 @ 04:21 PM EDT |
You are thinking too small. You are analyzing
potential harm by thinking only about Java, and
since you have GPLd OpenJDK, which includes the
APIs, you have no fear.
Here's what you are missing. If Oracle wins, it
won't be just Java APIs that will be copyright
protected and hence requiring a license. It could
be all APIs ever written. That's what will open
the clouds to rain down litigation on everyone,
when the short-term bean counters realize there is
money on the table.
And that is what will clog the system and force
companies to rewrite licenses and try to avoid
blindly entering into licenses without considering
the consequences of the specific language used,
meaning you will need a lawyer. Any
time there is a real change in the law, it has
meaningful consequences. How could it not? [ Reply to This | Parent | # ]
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Authored by: Anonymous on Sunday, May 20 2012 @ 06:04 PM EDT |
If Oracle win then they own the copyright to the API's. And you as a Java
programmer use this copyrighted work all the time. lucky for you Sun/Oracle
gave you an implied license to use the API's. But what about if another company
buys Oracle or just all of Oracle's Java Assets/Rights. Will they change the
rules just like Oracle did with Sun's Java patents. Sun said people are free to
build other implementations of Java. Google did what Sun said they were free to
do. Then Oracle buys Sun and tries to make money off this. So whats to stop
another company doing this to you in the future?
I know this is kind of a stupid argument because no one is going to buy Java now
as its not worth much anymore but it's just a thought experiment to show you
Google's position and why Sun's past decelerations against using patents is
important. As a Java programmer you trust Oracle to not sue you over your use
of Java because of what they say. And Google did the same.
Michael [ Reply to This | Parent | # ]
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Authored by: jjs on Monday, May 21 2012 @ 06:04 AM EDT |
If an API can be copyrighted, ANY use of it is potentially
infringing - which would include using it for programs. So
every time you write a Java program, you need a license from
Oracle to use the API - and there is nothing that indicates
they won't in the future decide they want their cut.
You need to think consequences, as PJ said.
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(Note IANAL, I don't play one on TV, etc, consult a practicing attorney, etc,
etc)
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