Java License Changes – Move to Zero Cost Java
The Java ecosystem was built on a high quality free JDK from Sun Microsystems and continued to grow through a similar free JDK from Oracle.
From January 2019, Oracle changed the licensing policy around Java. And, again in January 2023, Oracle change the licensing metric for Java. From a predominantly ‘free’ Java for most use cases, Oracle Java has been migrated to a largely commercial licensing model. This has given rise to potential license non-compliance risks and brought in a new revenue stream for Oracle.
Oracle is now going to extremes with monetizing Java, it has become imperative for customers to look at how to manage costs around a till now ‘free’ product.
What is the change in costs for customers?
Assumptions:
- Employee Size: 10,000
- ‘Commercial’ versions of Java found in 200 desktops
- 14 servers need ‘commercial’ versions of Java.
(these are numbers taken from an average of many of our clients. In most cases the actual requirements are even lower. The average is skewed because of one outlier)
Costs:
Oracle: US$990,000 per year
Non-Oracle: Between $50,000 to $150,000 per year
OpenJDK: Zero
What are the cost options for the customer?
The choices in front of the customer are:
- Pay up the money Oracle is demanding.
- Get visibility of your Java estate and negotiate the correct money that you believe should be paid to Oracle.
- Migrate to non-oracle (this is essentially paying for support, security updates & latest versions)
- Migrate to OpenJDK (you will need to update the security patches every six months. A very good option for many)
What is the current status in Oracle Java license audits?
We have started seeing formal audits of end-user companies for their usage of Java since June 2022, there have also been been an increase in
- Discussions on wrong usage of Java and persuasion to purchase licenses
- Formal discussions for purchase of Java subscriptions
- Audits of third-party ISVs for their sales & sub-license of Java
We expect Java license audits to move into prime-time in 2024 and 2025.
How can we help?
Use the Rythium Java License Assessment Service. The scope of our Java License Assessment Service includes:
- Java deployment discovery
- Data Normalization & Identifying to Oracle Java Agreements
- Contracts & Entitlement Analysis (Oracle and third party)
- Normalization with third party entitlements
- Normalization with other Oracle entitlements
- Reporting
- Negotiations and Hand Holding
Read more about Java License Review
About Rythium
Rythium has been formed by a former Oracle executive with nearly 16 years of ‘selling’ Oracle products and getting customers to sign Oracle license agreements. Both of these are an art by itself. The latter is not easy while facing a questioning customer. The experience of doing the same thing hundreds of times helps in understanding how to maneuver around Oracle’s contracts with skill and care.
Rythium has, in the 10 years since it was founded, has helped nearly 240 customers to manage Oracle contracts, license audits, audit defenses, ULAs and PULAs.