Using Java for your projects, and testing? You may have gone and updated recently and noticed the updated license terms.
The new license permits certain uses, such as personal use and development use, at no cost. Those using this in the workplace, not so much.
Oracle is encouraging those downloading java from their site to read the updated FAQ.
If you are an organization used to getting Oracle Java SE binaries at no cost, you can simply continue doing so with Oracle’s OpenJDK releases available at jdk.java.net. If you are used to getting Oracle Java SE binaries at no cost as a personal user or for development use, then you can continue to get Oracle Java SE releases through java.com (personal users) and the Oracle Technology Network (“OTN”) (developers). Those wishing to use the Oracle JDK or Oracle JRE for other uses will require a Java SE Subscription.
Is Java still free?
Oracle stewards the OpenJDK open source community and provides the latest stability, performance and security updates to the latest release. This includes patch updates, scheduled over a year in advance; additional updates when required; and two feature updates (which also include critical patch updates) each year under the new release cadence.
What about updates?
You will continue to receive updates as before until at least December 2020. The auto-update mechanism will ask you to confirm that you understand and accept the new license before updating.
What is personal use?
Personal use is using Java on a desktop or laptop computer to do things such as to play games or run other personal applications. If you are using Java on a desktop or laptop computer as part of any business operations, that is not personal use. For example, you could use a Java productivity application to do your own homework or your personal taxes, but you could not use it to do your business accounting.
What if Java comes with software I installed?
Your application vendor may have an ISV agreement with Oracle to provide you with Java updates to run the application vendor’s product. If this is the case, you will not need a separate license from Oracle for Java running on the application. Please contact your application vendor to determine whether your application vendor is authorized to distribute Java to you with their application.
How to prepare?
If you are an existing commercial Java SE user, you should conduct an internal assessment of your current Java deployment and the commercial features you are using to:
- Ensure you are compliant and properly licensed based on the number of desktops or servers where Java is deployed.
- Determine whether switching to the new subscription model would be more cost-effective based on your current annual support fees with Java.
If you anticipate your requirements for commercial use of Java to grow, you may want to consider switching to the subscription model. If you decide to switch, you can use the processor (CPU) or NUP metric to determine whether the server or desktop-based subscription is best for your environment based on your licensing requirements.
Don’t think you’re a commercial user? Conducting an internal assessment may still be worth your time since organizations running the free version of Java SE risk being out-of-compliance which could result in significant fees if audited.
To be on the safe side, have your legal team confirm that Oracle’s Java licensing policies allow your organization to use Java SE without requiring the purchase of commercial licenses.
Not Sure what to do!
Step 1: Uninstall Oracle Java
Step 2: Visit https://openjdk.java.net/
Step 3: Continue working as you did before