FAO: Researchers and anyone who uses Java in their work
IT Services has communicated changes to the Oracle licensing model relating to Java. Please read below if you use Java in your work.
Change: Any version older than Oracle Standard Edition version 17 (aka JDK 17) is now under a Java SE Universal subscription. The billing for these versions is not based on the number of product users, but rather on the number of employees the university has.
Risk: Any new download of one of the chargeable versions could see Queen Mary being billed over $680k annually. A similar situation has already happened at two other universities that Queen Mary is aware of, so the risk is very real.
Action: Please do not download any Java version predating JDK 17 on any device. This includes any unmanaged, shared, or personal devices used for work purposes.
Action: Schools and Institutes must ensure that any local university-owned devices have been checked to remove older versions of Java. OpenJDK is fine for staff and students to install and run. A detailed briefing note and a video explaining what those changes mean to universities are attached:
Action: If you use Java in your work, or if you believe that Java may be installed on any device that you use for work (including managed, shared or personal devices used for work purposes), please check that the version you have installed is not any older than Oracle Standard Edition version 17 (aka JDK 17). Personal devices brought to work that are used solely for study purposes are not included in this restriction.
To find out if Oracle Java is installed on Windows and MacOS follow this link:
https://www.java.com/en/download/help/version_manual.html
For Linux users, run the “java -version” command to determine the installed Java version.
If the OpenJDK is used, the results should look like:
openjdk version "1.8.0_242"
OpenJDK Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_242-b09)
OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.242-b09, mixed mode)
(keep)
If Oracle Java is used, the results should look like:
java version "1.8.0_241"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_241-b07)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.241-b07, mixed mode)
(delete)
IT Services and ER are currently developing broadcast comms and FAQs, which will be shared centrally.
Agnieszka Jankowska (a.jankowska@qmul.ac.uk) and IT Services