Oracle Java SE Licensing
As of 16 April 2019, Oracle updated its Java license, which has limited the use of Oracle Java on systems owned by organisations.
What Changed in Oracle’s Java SE License?
On 16 April 2019, Oracle revised its Oracle Technology Network License Agreement for Oracle Java SE, affecting key products such as the Java Runtime Environment (JRE), Java SE Development Kit (JDK), and Java Web Start. For more information, please refer to the Oracle Java License FAQ
Under the new agreement, the following use cases remain free of charge:
- Personal Use
- Development Use
- Oracle Approved Product Use
However, other use cases, such as accessing or distributing production products, are no longer free and require an Oracle Java SE Subscription
How Does This Change Affect CityUHK?
The main risks associated with this license change include:
- Compliance: Ensuring adherence to the new license agreement to avoid audit flags and penalties.
- Costs: Facing excessive subscription costs.
To mitigate these risks, we will:
- Eliminate reliance on Oracle Java wherever feasible.
- Transition to open-source alternatives, such as OpenJDK or Amazon Corretto.
What Do I Need to Do?
- If you are using an Oracle Approved Product (e.g. WebLogic) that comes bundled with the rights to use Java SE, you may keep it on your computer. However, you must ensure that it is used exclusively for this Oracle Product.
- If you do not require Java, please ensure your computer is not installed with Java SE.
- If you need Java functionality, ensure to use OpenJDK and migrate non-compliant workloads as soon as possible.
For assistance, please contact Central IT at:
- 3442 8340 (CSC) for software version checks;
- 3442 6699 (ESU) for application-related enquiries (e.g. Banner/AIMS).
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