Organizations that use Java but do not consider themselves Oracle customers may be contacted by the tech giant in the next few months, according to House of Brick, a software licensing specialist. Oracle has been tracking product downloads and IP addresses to identify non-compliant Java SE usage, even for organizations that do not have a direct relationship with them.
Oracle introduced new licensing models for its Java SE platform in 2019, moving from a free model to charging licensing fees. Gartner estimates that the new per-employee subscription model may be two to five times more expensive than the previous model. Organizations that have not worked with Oracle before may find themselves facing unexpected licensing requirements.
Oracle has been reaching out to organizations that have downloaded Java SE to enforce licensing requirements. They may offer to bypass penalties for unlicensed software if the organizations subscribe to the new model. However, this could significantly increase costs, with some facing price hikes of over 1000 percent.
Many organizations have started to uninstall Oracle Java and switch to open source alternatives to avoid these fees. Oracle has the right to request retroactive payments for Java use since the new payment deal was announced. However, the question of whether organizations should be forced to adopt the new subscription model remains contentious.
Oracle has set a limit on retroactive payments to three years, but they may still try to charge based on the new pricing model introduced in 2023. House of Brick advises organizations to carefully consider any offers from Oracle and negotiate for better terms, as the new pricing model may not be favorable.
Overall, organizations using Java should be prepared to hear from Oracle regarding licensing requirements, even if they have not previously worked with the company. The new subscription models introduced by Oracle have significant cost implications, and organizations should assess their options carefully to avoid unexpected fees.
Article Source
https://www.theregister.com/2024/06/20/oracle_java_licence_teams/