Microsoft Extends MS Java's Shelf Life

In the wake of its recent sweeping antitrust suit settlement over Java with Sun Microsystems, Microsoft has extended support for the Microsoft Java Virtual Machine (MSJVM) by three years.

Until last week, Microsoft was set to terminate support for MSJVM — as well as a number of key Microsoft products that include the MSJVM code — on September 30, 2004.

On April 8, Microsoft posted to its Web site an update on its MSJVM phase-out plans. Microsoft and Sun have agreed to "extend Microsoft's license to use Sun's Java source code and compatibility test suites," according to the site. As a result, Microsoft will continue to support the MSJVM until December 31, 2007.

The news isn't all positive for MSJVM advocates, however. Microsoft currently is not planning any future support for the MSJVM after 2007. After that date, "there will be no enhancements to the MSJVM. Microsoft products and SKUs currently including the MSJVM will continue to be retired or replaced by versions not containing the MSJVM on a schedule to be announced," the text on the Microsoft site said.

Microsoft is encouraging its customers who rely on MSJVM or products containing the MSJVM code to migrate away from those platforms, and is making a number of tools and migration guides available to encourage them to do so.

Read the Full Text of Microsoft's Amended Java Statement Here

Much of the brouhaha over Microsoft's support of Java dates back to 1997, when Sun, the creator of Java, for what Sun claimed was Microsoft's improper use of Sun's Java technology. Sun and Microsoft agreed to settle the suit in January 2001. Microsoft paid Sun $20 million and the two agreed to a plan for Microsoft to phase out products that included the older version of Microsoft Java that allegedly infringed on Sun's Java copyrights and trademarks.

Sun subsequently sued Microsoft again in March 2002 for alleged harm due to Microsoft's anticompetitive behavior around Java. Two weeks ago, Sun and Microsoft agreed to settle all outstanding antitrust and patent issues between the two, in exchange for Microsoft shelling out $1.6 billion-plus to Sun.

Last fall, Sun and Microsoft agreed to extend the time period under which Microsoft was allowed to use Sun's Java source and compatibility test suites. The two agreed to allow Microsoft to support the Microsoft Java Virtual Machine (MSJVM) until Sept. 30, 2004 "to permit a smooth transition from the MSJVM."

But in December, 2003, Microsoft created a ruckus among some customers by announcing plans to clear its sales channels early of products containing the MSJVM code. Among the MSJVM-inclusive products that Microsoft was set to eliminate from Microsoft's sales channels were Windows 98, SQL Server 7 and a number of versions of Office 2000.

This article was originally published on microsoft-watch.com.

Copyright © 2004 Ziff Davis Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. Originally appearing in Dev Source.