So who is right here? Sun or Red Hat? Guess that depends on who you are asking. As far as the opinions of the readers of this content channel, my money is with Red Hat.

Sun Microsystems’ new GNU/Linux-friendly Java license does not go far enough for Red Hat. It says Sun should have open-sourced Java instead.

Brian Stevens, Red Hat CTO, told The Register Sun should open-source its Java Virtual Machine (JVM) (which is licensed by Red Hat) so developers can improve the software’s real-time capabilities.

He says the failure to open-source Java means that it can’t be used on millions of $100, Linux-powered PCs envisioned under Nicholas Negroponte’s One Laptop Per Child project, to bring affordable computing to children in developing nations. Negroponte wants only open source software on the machines, according to Red Hat, which is a member of the project.

According to Stevens, Sun’s Distro License for Java (DLJ) - launched at this week’s JavaOne conference - will reduce companies’ legal costs. But does not satisfy the desire for open source Java. He criticized Sun for being reactive, rather than leading, on the issue of open source Java. “They try to do the minimal amount they can get away with,” he said…. Source: Reg Developer