Oracle’s decision to sue Google for patent and copyright infringement over some of the Java code in Google’s Android OS has promoted the Mountain View, Calif.-based search giant to boycott this year’s JavaOne conference. JavaOne is the premier event for Java developers, and for years has been a must-attend show for folks involved in the Java ecosystem.
Joshua Bloch, who works for Google’s open source programs office, announced the boycott in a blog post.
Oracle’s recent lawsuit against Google and open source has made it impossible for us to freely share our thoughts about the future of Java and open source generally. This is a painful realization for us, as we’ve participated in every JavaOne since 2004, and I personally have spoken at all but the first in 1996.
Given that the lawsuit is all about money, Google is being cautious. Nevertheless, it’s getting support from some developers, who are wondering if it was time for a full-blown JavaOne boycott. Bob Lee, a developer for Jack Dorsey’s new start-up, Square is also giving the conference a pass, he noted in a tweet this morning.
If you’re a Java developer, what’s your take on the situation, and more importantly, do you plan to attend the conference or like Google, are you, too, skipping the event?
