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I think that Oracle doesn't view Open Source projects as assets, full stop. They're cost centers, not profit centers. I don't think Open Office factored into

I think that Oracle doesn't view Open Source projects as assets, full stop. They're cost centers, not profit centers. I don't think Open Office factored into Oracle's analysis of the Sun acquisition at all, and I doubt they'd notice if it disappeared. They've got other things on their minds.

keypusher 16y ago
Actually, they were working on a Google Docs competitor called Cloud Office that was going to be powered by Open Office. Project appears to have been canceled now and all pages are 404.
- rbanffy 16y ago
  Ballmer must have called telling how unfortunate would it be if Oracle software were continuously broken by every new security update of Windows Server.
  - neworbit 16y ago
    Larry isn't exactly shying away from a fight with MS :)
    - rbanffy 16y ago
      Larry would never admit it, but he is a pragmatist. He will fight Microsoft when it favors Oracle and shy away when it doesn't. Larry must think Microsoft has enough enemies to keep it in check without Oracle having to devote resources to that.
bad_user 16y ago
I think they care about Java, especially the standard -- since if you can force compliance by means of patents, trademarks and nebulous copyright-infringement FUD, then it doesn't matter if OpenJDK exists (on the contrary, does wonders for marketing purposes; a supposed "standard" with a reference implementation that's open-source? how can anyone not dig it?). There is that alternative implementation, called Apache Harmony, that's like this huge elephant in the room of every JCP vote they have, reminding everybody that the Java standard is in fact a tightly controlled, proprietary farce, having nothing to do with standards that are controlled by real standard bodies (although regrettably, besides Google and Apache, nobody had the balls to vote against the Java 7 roadmap; although the members did express concerns, but for the JCP that's as natural as screaming when taking it in the ass forcefully, without consequences for Oracle) I do hope somebody will fork Java SE (the standard). If Google gets away with Android, maybe Dalvik will evolve to be a drop-in replacement to Harmony's VM.
- rbanffy 16y ago
  What's the big problem with OpenJDK?

keypusher 16y ago

Actually, they were working on a Google Docs competitor called Cloud Office that was going to be powered by Open Office. Project appears to have been canceled now and all pages are 404.

rbanffy 16y ago
Ballmer must have called telling how unfortunate would it be if Oracle software were continuously broken by every new security update of Windows Server.
- neworbit 16y ago
  Larry isn't exactly shying away from a fight with MS :)
  - rbanffy 16y ago
    Larry would never admit it, but he is a pragmatist. He will fight Microsoft when it favors Oracle and shy away when it doesn't. Larry must think Microsoft has enough enemies to keep it in check without Oracle having to devote resources to that.

bad_user 16y ago

I think they care about Java, especially the standard -- since if you can force compliance by means of patents, trademarks and nebulous copyright-infringement FUD, then it doesn't matter if OpenJDK exists (on the contrary, does wonders for marketing purposes; a supposed "standard" with a reference implementation that's open-source? how can anyone not dig it?). There is that alternative implementation, called Apache Harmony, that's like this huge elephant in the room of every JCP vote they have, reminding everybody that the Java standard is in fact a tightly controlled, proprietary farce, having nothing to do with standards that are controlled by real standard bodies (although regrettably, besides Google and Apache, nobody had the balls to vote against the Java 7 roadmap; although the members did express concerns, but for the JCP that's as natural as screaming when taking it in the ass forcefully, without consequences for Oracle) I do hope somebody will fork Java SE (the standard). If Google gets away with Android, maybe Dalvik will evolve to be a drop-in replacement to Harmony's VM.

rbanffy 16y ago
What's the big problem with OpenJDK?