Self originally joined the Java Lobby board & fought tooth & nail against MS blatant attempts to carry out Bill's stated strategy of "cut off their air supply".

In time there was a growing concern that Sun thought they had the means to take control of the Java/Desktop - IBM had stepped in in 1995/6 and done a comprehensive deal with Sun that allowed IBM to use Java with zero license fee if IBM contributed large portions of technology & effort to boost Java as a viable Internet technology.

IBM contributed more than 50% of Java - the Internationalization, serialization, Enterprise Java Beans - a massive infusion. Part of the understanding with Sun was that Java would then be handed over to a standards committee - once Java had taken hold, Sun backed out & then tried to force IBM to take a license for a 'new' Java Java2 (with Swing) but IBM had a good set of lawyers who stood up to Sun on the use of core Java & Sun backed down. But IBM was did drop the Sun proprietary Swing GUI widgets in favour of a competing set.

IBM then played out a counter strategy that was largely responsible for kicking the feet out from under Sun (Sun's shares are now at a multi-year low). That strategy (also amied at Microsoft) was for IBM to back Linux & to put its money where its mouth is by implementing Linux accross all platforms & fully promoting it as well as porting all key IBM software to Linux. Sales of Solaris slumped & are unlikely to recover. Sun got painted into a corner & is struggling to find a way out.

Anyway - self was a big Sun supporter up until they 'weakened' Java with their antics. Actually wrote several Java articles for them (some still on their website). Despite what has happened I fully applaud the judges decision & hope it is made to stick.

Cheers

Doug Marker