Oracle Java licensing refit means price hikes, say expert • The Register

Oracle stands accused of “predatory” licensing techniques after making modifications to the Oracle Java SE subscription mannequin that might pressure companies to pay tens of 1000’s of {dollars} extra every month for working the identical software program.

Business specialists have identified that companies with restricted Java use must license the software program per worker beneath the brand new mannequin, a dramatic shift from the one Oracle beforehand afforded them.

This week, Massive Purple – which acquired Java with its buyout of Solar Microsystems in 2009 – mentioned the new Java SE Universal Subscription is “a easy, low-cost month-to-month subscription that features Java SE Licensing and Assist to be used on Desktops, Servers or Cloud deployments.”

“Clients of the legacy Java SE Subscription merchandise proceed to obtain all the unique advantages and will renew beneath their current phrases and metrics,” it mentioned.

It comes with an accompanying price list, which exhibits the important thing distinction between the brand new and the outdated mannequin is that Java shall be licensed on a per worker, relatively than a per consumer or per processor foundation because the old model allowed.

Though Oracle guarantees to permit legacy customers to resume beneath their present Ts&Cs, it’s prone to strain customers onto the brand new mannequin as time goes by, sources indicated.

Craig Guarente, founder and CEO of software program licensing advisor Palisade Compliance, advised The Register: “Oracle at all times strikes clients to the brand new mannequin at a while. Additionally, what’s the pricing? There isn’t any manner Oracle may have some perpetual, no value improve coverage.”

The shift would penalize firms which had spent years minimizing their Java utilization, solely to seek out they have been being charged per worker, regardless of how a lot Java they used, Guarente mentioned.

“We’ve got one buyer who has a Java subscription, a Common License Settlement for Oracle Java, the entire firm, however now with the brand new pricing, their price for Java goes up 10-fold. We’ve got achieved evaluation on a number of different firms and the typical we’re seeing is 2x to 4x value improve that it will incur as a result of clients have been superb about minimizing Oracle Java utilization and getting a lower cost. That is the way you get leverage with Oracle.”

He added: “Not solely can Oracle see that you have downloaded the software program, however with Java, they will see that you have put in it and you have began to run it. One buyer reached out to us saying, ‘Hey, take a look at what my Oracle rep has mentioned. They might see we’re downloading these items and the renewal for the Java subscription occurs in April, in order that they need to discuss concerning the new pricing mannequin’.”

Guarente advised us one other shopper had mentioned: “That is predatory, even for Oracle.”

Nick Walter, CTO at Oracle assist specialist Home of Brick, mentioned: “If Oracle runs true to type from previous incidents of deprecating a pricing mannequin or licensing metric then they’ll seemingly do their utmost to pressure clients into the brand new mannequin. They might enable folks to resume current metrics and settlement but when they want any incremental license buy then they’ll almost definitely be pressured into the newer – and costlier – mannequin.”

Nathan Biggs, Home of Bricks CEO, estimated that an organization with 250 staff, 20 Java Desktop Customers and eight Java Put in Processors would pay $3,000 a yr on the outdated mannequin, which grows to $45,000 a yr beneath the brand new subscription, a 1,400 % improve.

“What this implies in your group is that no matter your Java customers or server footprint, you now should rely each worker, contractor, marketing consultant, and agent to find out your Java subscription invoice. You’re doubtlessly on the hook for an enormous subscription charge improve that will have little or no profit to your operation,” Biggs mentioned.

We’ve got requested Oracle to answer criticism of its licensing modifications. ®