Sun to Release Java under GPL

This week Sun announced the release of Java under the GPL. Sun says that the move was a consequence of the Microsoft and Novell deal. The released code will be Java SE, Java ME and Java EE. They also said that Solaris, currently licensed under the CDDL license, may also be released under the GPL which might allow cross polination of source code between Linux and Solaris.

While there is a healthy community around Java there have been ongoing license issues with distribution of Java which prevented it being included with popular Linux distributions. By being licensed under the GPL it will allow Java to be incorporated into the popular Debian and Ubuntu distributions. It may also put to rest the concerns of the Free Software community who perferred to use open source languages.