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| <div class="container"> <h1 id="faq-open-letter-to-sun-microsystems-jck">FAQ - Open Letter to Sun Microsystems - JCK<a class="headerlink" href="#faq-open-letter-to-sun-microsystems-jck" title="Permalink">¶</a></h1> |
| <h1 id="faq-open-letter-to-sun-microsystems">FAQ Open Letter to Sun Microsystems<a class="headerlink" href="#faq-open-letter-to-sun-microsystems" title="Permalink">¶</a></h1> |
| <p>We have created the following FAQ to provide background information on the |
| <a href="sunopenletter.html">open letter to Sun microsystems.</a></p> |
| <pre><code>Q : What is the Apache Software Foundation? |
| A : The Apache Software Foundation - or ASF - is a 501(c)3 public |
| charity that, among other things, provides a foundation for |
| open, collaborative software development projects by supplying |
| hardware, communication, and business infrastructure. The |
| Foundation website is http://www.apache.org and you can read |
| more about the Foundation at |
| http://www.apache.org/foundation/faq.html |
| |
| Q : What is the Apache Harmony project? |
| A : Apache Harmony is a project of the Apache Software Foundation |
| focused on creating an independent, compatible implementation |
| of Java SE. That means we're writing the whole implementation |
| from scratch, or incorporating software from other open source |
| projects. You can read more about the Apache Harmony project |
| at its website http://harmony.apache.org |
| |
| Q : Why was Harmony created? |
| A : Harmony was created for many reasons. The fundamental reason is the same as |
| other projects in the open source / free software space working Java (such as |
| GNU Classpath, Kaffe, GCJ, etc) - we wanted to do an implementation of a |
| complete, compatible Java SE runtime environment, including virtual machine, |
| class library and tools under a FLOSS license. |
| |
| Q : What does "FLOSS" mean? |
| A : It refers to a license being either "Free", "Libre" or "Open |
| Source". |
| |
| Q : What is the Java Community Process? |
| A : The Java Community Process (or JCP) is the governing |
| organization for Java. Initially created by Sun, it includes |
| an Executive Committee composed of 32 representatives from |
| corporations, individuals and academics representing thousands |
| of members. The JCP is the organization through which new |
| specifications for Java technology are created. |
| |
| Q : How long has the JCP existed? |
| A : After an initial draft of the process was crafted and |
| distributed on October 8, 1998, the JCP was introduced on |
| December 8, 1998 and was announced by Sun at the 1998 Java |
| Business Expo Conference. |
| |
| Q : What is the JSPA? |
| A : The JSPA is the "Java Specification Participation Agreement", |
| the governing document of the JCP. Among other things, it |
| specifies how IP is managed in an expert group, how it is |
| licensed to independent implementations, and how the TCK and |
| RI can be licensed. |
| |
| Q : What is a JSR? |
| A : A JSR is a "Java Specification Request", the formal vehicle |
| through which Java technologies are created or updated. A JSR |
| is proposed by any JCP member, who is then known as the |
| "specification lead" or "spec lead" for that JSR. The spec |
| lead organizes an "expert group" and that expert group works |
| to create the specification. The expert group must also |
| create a "reference implementation" or "RI", as well as a |
| "technology compatibility kit" or "TCK". |
| |
| Q : What is an expert group? |
| A : An expert group is a group of people, organized by a spec lead |
| for a JSR, with appropriate expertise in the area of the JSR. |
| |
| Q : How many JSRs has the ASF participated in? |
| A : Many - the ASF has had representation in JSRs since the modern |
| JCP was formed. |
| |
| Q : How many JSRs has the ASF implemented as open source software? |
| A : Many. For example, Apache Tomcat, Apache Geronimo, Apache |
| Harmony, Apache MyFaces, Apache Scout, Apache ActiveMQ, Apache |
| ServiceMix, Apache Jackrabbit, Apache Portals, Apache |
| WebServices and Apache XML are all projects that implement one |
| or more JSRs. |
| |
| Q : What is a TCK? |
| A : The Technology Compatibility Kit, a test framework produced by |
| the spec lead to be used by independent implementations to |
| demonstrate compatibility (and therefore get the grant of |
| necessary IP). |
| |
| Q : Why is the TCK useful? |
| A : It allows independent implementations to demonstrate that they |
| are compatible with the specification, and as a result, |
| receive all the "necessary IP" from expert group members. |
| |
| Q : What is "necessary IP" and why is this important that |
| compatible implementations receive it? |
| A : "Necessary IP" is the IP - usually patents - that cannot be |
| technically avoided when implementing the specification. This |
| is important because it prevents anyone from joining an expert |
| group and gaining the ability to demand royalties from |
| implementors or users of the specification. This is one of |
| the main features of the JCP that makes the specs the JCP |
| produces "open specifications". |
| |
| Q : You talk about the JCK in the letter. Is the JCK a TCK? |
| A : It is, actually. The JCK is the name Sun gave the TCK for the |
| Java SE specification. While it has a different name, it's a |
| TCK for the purposes of JCP process discussion. |
| |
| Q : Who owns the JCK? |
| A : Sun owns the JCK, as they created it as part of their |
| obligation as a spec lead. The JSPA requires the spec lead |
| for every JSR to deliver a TCK (which Sun calls the JCK for |
| the Java SE spec) when a given spec is completed to allow |
| independent implementations to demonstrate compatibility and |
| receive the necessary IP grant. |
| |
| Q : Was it always possible to create and distribute |
| implementations of JSRs under free and open source licenses? |
| A : No, but the ASF was instrumental in making this possible. In |
| 2002, the Apache Software Foundation, working with other |
| members of the Java community, led the effort to change the |
| JCP governance document - the "Java Specification |
| Participation Agreement" or JSPA. These changes finally made |
| it possible to create independent implementations of Java |
| specification under free and open source licenses. Before |
| these changes, it was impossible to do so. |
| |
| Q : What is the "Apache Compromise"? |
| A : As part of the process that led to changes in the JSPA, Sun |
| Microsystems made a public commitment to the Java community |
| that Sun-led specifications would be implementable in free and |
| open source software. That commitment can be found here : |
| http://jcp.org/aboutJava/communityprocess/announce/LetterofIntent.html |
| |
| Q : Is it true that Java SE 5 was the first of the Java SE JSRs to |
| be released under the above-mentioned FOSS-friendly JCP terms? |
| A : Yes. Some Java specifications take years to complete, and one |
| was in progress at the time of the JSPA changes. So we had to |
| wait until the next JSR for Java SE was complete, which was |
| Java SE 5. |
| |
| Q : I see you refer to "necessary IP" in your open letter. Is Sun |
| the only owner of the necessary intellectual property that the |
| Java SE JSR contains? |
| A : No. There probably is "necessary IP" from all members of the |
| Java SE expert group. The JSPA requires expert group members |
| to license their necessary IP to the spec lead, who in turn is |
| obligated to license all necessary IP to any compatible |
| implementation that passes the TCK (or in this case, the JCK). |
| |
| Q : Who was the spec lead for the Java SE 5 JSR? |
| A : Sun. See http://jcp.org/en/jsr/detail?id=176 |
| |
| Q : Is Apache the first to ask for a JCK license? |
| A : No. There are many JCK licensees. It is our understanding |
| that we are the first non-profit with no commercial ties to |
| Sun to attempt to license the JCK. We know about a JCK |
| licensing discussion between Sun and some in the free software |
| community, but we don't believe that led to a successful |
| resolution. |
| |
| Q : Is Apache against Sun earning money out of licensing the JCK |
| to commercial entities? |
| A : Of course not. The ASF is a public charity and as such, |
| doesn't compete in the commercial marketplace. We take a |
| completely neutral position regarding legal commercial |
| activity. |
| |
| Q : What is a "field of use" restriction? |
| A : A "field of use" restriction is a restriction that limits how |
| a user can use a given piece of software, either directly or |
| indirectly. To give a concrete example from the Sun / Apache |
| dispute, if Apache accepted Sun's terms, then users of a |
| standard, tested build of Apache Harmony for Linux on a |
| standard general purpose x86-based computer (for example, a |
| Dell desktop) would be prevented from freely using that |
| software and that hardware in any application where the |
| computer was placed in an enclosed cabinet, like an |
| information kiosk at a shopping mall, or an X-ray machine at |
| an airport. |
| |
| Q : Is a "field of use" restriction incompatible with both open |
| source and free software principles? |
| A : Yes, both. See the Open Source Initiative's open source |
| definition (http://www.opensource.org/docs/osd), most notably |
| section 6 and 10 and the Free Software Foundation's free |
| software definition |
| (http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html) most notably |
| freedom #0. |
| |
| Q : Would the ASF be satisfied with a TCK license that removed the |
| field of use restriction if used only on Apache Licensed code? |
| A : No. Looking at the broader picture, the ASF has worked for |
| years to ensure that the JCP creates "open specifications", |
| specs that are freely implementable under free and open source |
| licenses. If the field of use restriction was lifted only for |
| the Apache License (or only the GPL, or only the MPL, or...) |
| then it still would be discriminatory and contrary to the |
| terms of the JSPA. The resulting specs still wouldn't be open |
| specifications. In addition to that, the Apache License 2.0 |
| grants everybody who follows the terms of the license "a |
| perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive, no-charge, royalty-free, |
| irrevocable copyright license to reproduce, prepare Derivative |
| Works of, publicly display, publicly perform, sublicense, and |
| distribute the Work and such Derivative Works in Source or |
| Object form." In particular, note the word "sublicense" in |
| that quote - it's not possible for an "Apace License |
| carve-out" here as people can sublicense our software. (Note |
| that it's still true that if someone makes a derivative work |
| of Apache Harmony, they are still obligated to secure their |
| own JCK license and test their derivative if they wish to call |
| their work compatible). |
| |
| Q : What is an acceptable JCK license for Apache? |
| A : Simply put, we're asking Sun to make it like the other 15+ TCK |
| licenses - including other major platform JSRs like Java EE - |
| we have executed with them over the years, all of which have |
| no "field of use" limitations. We are asking that Sun drops |
| the "field of use" limitation, therefore allowing freedom of |
| use, in accordance with their obligations under the JSPA. |
| |
| Q : Why does Apache think it's entitled to such a license while |
| others have to pay for it? |
| A : This isn't a debate about the cost - Sun agrees that it should |
| be available to Apache at no cost. The important issue is |
| lack of a field of use limitation. The JSPA mandates is that |
| everyone is entitled to a TCK license free of field of use |
| limitations - whether or not they pay for the license - and |
| that is what makes the specs created by the JCP open |
| specifications. Now, as to the issue of paying for the TCK, |
| the JSPA requires that TCKs are made available to qualified |
| not-for-profits, individuals and academics. As Apache is a |
| 501(c)3 public charity - aka "non-profit" - we therefore would |
| receive the JCK at no cost. |
| |
| Q : Does Apache think that Harmony could be used by commercial |
| entities to avoid paying JCK licensing fees to Sun? |
| A : No. The only way that could happen is if a commercial entity |
| stopped shipping their own software and started shipping the |
| tested binaries that were created by the Harmony project. |
| Even then, they would still need to license the Java branding |
| rights from Sun, as Apache does not pass those rights |
| downstream to users or redistributors of our software. Note |
| that if an entity made a derivative work, or used only part of |
| Harmony's source code in building their implementation, they |
| would still be obligated to obtain their own JCK license for, |
| and test the software themselves. Apache does not make its |
| TCKs available for use outside of our projects. |
| |
| Q : Is Apache trying to damage Sun's business? |
| A : No. Apache is a non-profit and does not engage in any |
| commercial activity. We're trying to build our own |
| independent implementation of Java, and create a community of |
| users and developers around that software, and need the JCK to |
| do so. |
| |
| Q : What about OpenJDK? Sun has indicated their intention to |
| release the source code of their implementation of Java SE |
| under a modified version of the GPLv2. Would OpenJDK be |
| allowed to ship without passing the JCK? |
| A : Good question, and a complicated one. We think the answer is |
| "no". While Sun was the spec lead of the Java SE JSR and |
| therefore had all the "necessary IP" licensed to them by all |
| the expert group members, by simply placing their own |
| implementation under the GPLv2, not all of the necessary IP is |
| automatically granted. If OpenJDK users are to receive the |
| benefits of compatibility, the project will need to ship a |
| binary that has passed the JCK. It is worth noting that if |
| Sun placed "field of use" limitations in the certified |
| releases of OpenJDK, that would be in violation of its own |
| license, the GPLv2. If Sun added a "GPL-only carve-out" to |
| the field of use, that would be problematic in the same way |
| that an "Apache License-only carve-out" would be problematic, |
| as we discussed above. |
| |
| Q : Why doesn't Apache simply ignore this and ships Harmony |
| without passing the JCK? |
| A : We can ship Harmony without passing the JCK - it's our source |
| code to do with what we wish - and we will with milestone |
| releases as we progress towards completion. However, we could |
| never claim to be Java compatible, which is something very |
| important to Java users, and is the stated goal of the |
| project. Also, users wouldn't be assured that they had all |
| necessary IP rights from the spec's contributors. Compatibility |
| is important to us as is not putting users in IP jeopardy, as |
| it has been for every JSR the ASF has ever implemented. We have |
| no interest in forking the technology. |
| |
| Q : Why is Apache resorting to this public "open letter"? |
| A : Apache has tried since August of 2006 to get this license. |
| There has been quite a bit of effort put into this to achieve |
| a private resolution, including private appeals to officers of |
| Sun, including Jonathan Schwartz, Sun's CEO. We even brought |
| the issue up to the JCP Executive Committee. But to this point, |
| Sun has continued to be unyielding. We really did hope to resolve this |
| peacefully and privately, and continue to hope that we can |
| resolve this peacefully. But we owe answers to our |
| communities as to why we haven't been able to secure the JCK, |
| and we feel that at this point, it is Sun's question to answer |
| given their contractual obligations in the JSPA, and their |
| past and current promises to the open and free software |
| communities. |
| |
| Q : Would Apache send such an open letter if it wasn't Sun the |
| spec lead of the Java 5 JSR? |
| A : Absolutely, if we ever got to an equivalent stage with another |
| spec lead. JCP openness is a necessary requirement for a |
| healthy and diverse java ecosystem and has nothing to do with |
| the identity of the spec lead or their company affiliation. |
| </code></pre> |
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