Sun Joins the Free Software Foundation

RLiegh writes "Ars Technica reports that Sun has joined the FSF Corporate Patron program. The article explains that the FSF corporate program allows companies to provide financial assistance to the FSF in return for license consulting services. The article goes on to observe that this move is doubtlessly motivated by Sun's interest in GPL3's direction. Now that Sun has opened up Java and become an FSF corporate sponsor...could the move to dual license OpenSolaris under the GPL3 be far behind?"

Comments

Re:Sun opened up Java?

[McDutchie]

If this is true, how come I can't ``apt-get install java'' and get the SUn Java on Debian default install?

Because java doesn't insert itself magically into the apt repository the second Sun relicenses it. This takes work.

Re:Sun opened up Java?

[M. Baranczak]

It's not open-source yet. These things take time, be patient. I think they said they'll finish the process by the middle of 2007.

Re:Sun opened up Java?

[jZnat]

Because the package name is sun-java6-jdk (and others in sun-java6-*), and it's in non-free (or multiverse on Ubuntu).

Java 7 will be released under GPL3, so expect to see that in main.

Re:Sun opened up Java?

[i_should_be_working]

Here.

Debian derivative. Uses Solaris as it's kernel.

Re:Is it really doubtless?

[LarsWestergren]

Or perhaps it was motivated by Sun's desire to buy their way into the "free" software community's good graces without fully embracing its approach.

What the HELL are you talking about?? After Java was open sourced Stallman said: "I think that Sun with this contribution has contributed more than any other company to the free software community in the form of software. And it shows leadership -- it's an example I hope others will follow.". What more do you want?