and  

in Corporate Environments

Volker Simonis, SAP / volker.simonis@gmail.com

Disclaimer

• I am not a lawyer!
• I do not provide legal advice!

The OpenJDK Project

http://openjdk.java.net/

• Open Source implementation of Java SE
• Reference implementation for Java SE 7, 8, 9, ..
• Licensed under GPLv2 (with Classpath exception)
• Collaboration space for different implementers:
  • RedHat, SAP, IBM, Google, Intel, Twitter, Azul
• Playground for Java SE related projects:
  • Coin, InvokeDynamic, Lambda, Nashorn, ...
  • Jigsaw, Graal, Panama, Value Types, ...
• Does not provide binaries - just source code!

The OpenJDK License

• GNU General Public License, version 2
• HotSpot files (i.e. everything under hotspot/ except JNI headers)
• GNU General Public License, version 2, with the Classpath Exception
• Class Library (i.e. everything under jdk/)

OpenJDK Distributions/Binaries

• Every Linux distribution comes with its own OpenJDK packages:
• RedHat/Fedora: based on the IcedTea project
• Also supports "exotic" platforms like arm32/ppc32/s390/mips using the Zero port
• Maintains its own patch queue
• Debian/Ubuntu (maintains own patch queue)
• Azul Zulu:
• OpenJDK binaries for Linux/Windows/Mac and embedded platforms
• Integrated into Microsoft Azure
• AWS and Docker (may use distribution specific packages)
• Adopt OpenJDK has a continuous build server

"Closed" OpenJDK Distribuitions

• Google internally uses a custom OpenJDK build
• Contributions to the OpenJDK (Parallelize the CMS full GC phase, ppc64le, jsr-166)
• Twitter internally uses a custom OpenJDK build
• Contributions to the OpenJDK (mostly GC fixes)
• OpenJDK port for Elbrus (russian VLIW CPU)
• Loongson/Mips64: has recently published a jdk8 repository

Distribuitions using the OpenJDK class library

• Possible because it is licensed under GPLv2 plus Classpath exception.
• IKVM.NET: Java implementation for Mono/.NET
• JamVM: a small, interpreter-only Java VM
• Supported as alternative JDK on many Linux distros (Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora)
• Eclipse OMR: open source version of IBM's J9

The Oracle JRE/JDK

• Oracle's Java SE implementation
• Based on OpenJDK sources
• Plus Oracle specific/proprietary extensions and addons
• Different font renderer (T2K vs. FreeType)
• FlightRecorder & MissionControl
• Browser plugin (now deprecated)
• JavaFX
• Licensed under the Oracle Binary Code License Agreement for Java SE

Oracle Java SE License

• Oracle Binary Code License Agreement for Java SE
• Contains "Field of use restriction"
• Only for "General Purpose Desktop Computers and Servers"
• Doesn't cover industrial control systems, mobile telephones and handheld devices, ..
• Doesn't cover "Commercial Features" (e.g. Flight Recorder, Mission Control) in production

Other Java implementations

OpenJDK and the Java™

• You are not allowed to call it Java™ (or Java™ compatible) because:
  • "Java" is a registered trademark
  • You don't get access to the Technology Compatibility Kit (TCK)
• Accessing the TCK requires the signing of the
  OpenJDK Community TCK License Agreement (OCTLA)
  • Only for OpenJDK or "substantially derived" projects under an "open source" license
  • OCTLA forbids disclosing TCK information to non-OCTLA licensees
• OCTLA is no trademark license!
• "OpenJDK" can be used according to the "OpenJDK Trademark Notice"

The Oracle Contribution Agreement (OCA)

• Copyright and patent sharing agreement with regard to your contribution
  • Simple dual licensing model
• Both, you and Oracle, can treat your contribution as if they were the sole owners
• Oracle guarantees to always publish any contribution under a suitable
  Free Software Foundation (FSF) or Open Source Initiative (OSI) approved license.

The Dual Licensing Model

The Java Enhancement Process (JEP)

• Collect, review, sort, and record proposals for enhancements to the JDK
• JEP 1: JDK Enhancement-Proposal & Roadmap Process defines the process
• Simpler than a Java Community Process (JCP) Java Specification Request (JSR)
  • Specification changes still require a JSR
• The JEP process is still dominated by Oracle:
  • requires endorsement and funding by Group Leads
  • The OpenJDK Lead (appointed by Oracle) ultimately
    decides which JEPs to include into the Roadmap.
• Still attractive for “implementation enhancements” (i.e. new Ports, GCs, JITs, ..)

OpenJDK Bylaws

• The "constitution" of the OpenJDK project
• Define OpenJDK Groups, Projects and Roles
• Define the Governing Board which manages
  the structure and operation of the OpenJDK community
  • Chair (appointed by Oracle): Georges Saab
  • Vice-Chair (appointed by IBM): John Duimovich
  • OpenJDK Lead (appointed by Oracle): Mark Reinhold
  • At-Large Member (elected by OpenJDK Members): Doug Lea, SUNY Oswego
  • At-Large Member (elected by OpenJDK Members): Andrew Haley, RedHat

OpenJDK Organisation

• Participants: individuals who subscribed to an OpenJDK mailing list
• Contributors: Participants who signed the OCA
• Groups (currently 20)
  • consist of Group Members and a Group Lead
    • Group Members elect new Group Members from Contributors
  • sponsor Projects
• Projects (currently 54)
  • produce artifacts (code, documentation, whole JDK releases)
  • have code repositories, mailing lists and possibly web content
  • consist of Authors, Committers, Reviewers and a Project Lead
    • Project Leads appoint Authors from Contributors
    • Committers elect new Committers from Authors