Jul. 28, 1997
Java portability in question
The story
From IEEE Computer, July 1997,
Plan for Java Standards Draws Fire (excerpted):
Sun Microsystems' attempt to standardize its Java technology has
run into stiff opposition from US companies. The controversy could
hurt Sun's request for permission to submit Java standards to
[international standards organizations].
In fact, the US Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to the JTC has
voted against Sun's proposal, saying it could support the plan
only if:
Sun agrees that the name Java
should be associated with the standard, not with Sun. [...]
Sun specifies which Java technologies it plans to submit for
standardization.
The JTC, rather than Sun, directs revisions of Java standards.
A number of ANSI voting members -- such as the IEEE,
Hewlett-Packard, Apple, Compaq, Texas Instruments, and Lucent --,
and important nonvoting members such as Microsoft and Intel, have
opposed Sun's plans. [...]
Hewlett-Packard said it opposes Sun's application primarilyt
because Sun plans to retain control over the technology by
retaining all Java document copyrights, distribution rights, and
trademarks.
A number of opponents contend Sun doesn't want to relinquish
control of the technology, even though submitters of standards
normally do so to permit the openness that standardization is
supposed to create. Some contend that Sun doesn't want openness
but wants to standardize Java only because that would lend
legitimacy and a sense of stability to the technology, thereby
increasing product sales. [...]
Gary Robinson, Sun's director of standards, said the committee
should not try to control the Java trademark because that would
create too many complex issues and financial considerations to
resolve. "Sun is willing to hold the trademark and continue to
license it on a nondiscriminatory basis at a reasonable fee",
Robinson said.
Our comment
Java started out as a proprietary technology and
the promise of openness is largely a marketing
slogan. As was evidenced by Sun's threatened lawsuits against
companies using "Java" as part of their corporate or product
names, Sun, which invented Java, intends to keep as close a hold
on it as it can.
Sun is of course "willing to license" the technology.
Eiffel provides the truly portable solution. The language and core
libraries (ELKS) are under the control of an international
organization of users and developers, NICE (the Nonprofit
International Consortium for Eiffel).
Of related interest
The following week's news item
complements this standards story by
giving the commercial story.
Reference
IEEE Computer, July 1997,
Plan for Java Standards Draws Fire.
The magazine's Web page is at
http://www.computer.org.
To other "news stories of the week".
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