One significant Java licensee we spoke to who did not want to be named says Sun Microsystems Inc’s terms are, in the final analysis, more restrictive than Microsoft Corp’s business practices. Sun, it said, seems to be bent on orchestrating contractual control of the industry through its Java licensing terms. At least Microsoft’s domination of the PC world is a de facto campaign, it says. Sun’s Java license is widely understood to be quite restrictive in terms of what a licensee can do with Java – and it’s very expensive. In today’s business environment you need to be able to control your own fate or you get hurt. It’s precisely the reason why Hewlett-Packard Co went off and wrote its own ‘clean room’ Java virtual machine that has attracted significant attention. And the reason why Intel Corp – also a fan of HP’s work – has been partnering with the likes of IBM Corp and Novell Inc on Java go-faster mechanisms, operating systems and other enhancements.
