Among SCO's myriad claims, they alleged Linux violates its copyright over the SysV APIs and ABIs. I doubt the court got around to addressing that issue.
If the above is correct, then under Oracle rules re-writing an API would be copyright infringement?
Not only would this restrict the ability to write alternatives to an API, but would effectively disallow code which is 100% yours from being run against an '''invalid''' "API". (I guess this is the Java trap RS defined?)
Some one should copyright println()or sprintf().
I have wanted to like the JVM for 10+ years, and now that technically it's in a good place for server-side code, looks like there is a battle over whether it is going to be "open" or not.
My opinion (without knowing enough about this situation in particular I'm afraid):
API's are "public" interfaces and an instrument for free speech. To restrict the use of an API goes beyond protecting the author of the API.
Many coders may not know Google wrote its own implementation, (or modified the original) and the "Java" brand and Java marketplace has been complicated. However, complexity is unavoidable and necessary when working with complex systems.
Company A makes bolt X (a patented bolt). Any company can make nuts. Company B makes a very different size bolt (Y) that is designed to use some of the nuts that fit bolt X. The bolt was not copied, but the diameter and threading is the same, by design.
