"As is clear, Apache claim that Sun is in violation of
the JSPA contract for both Java SE 5 and Java SE 6 platform
specifications. The comments above also indicate how matters
changed over the course of time.
"Given the dispute, it is clear that Apache would object to
there being a Java SE 7 platform JSR without changes being made to
resolve the issue. However, Apache is just one voice in the
industry. The power in the JCP is held in two 16 member Executive
Committes - one for Java SE/EE and one for Java ME. Clearly,
therefore, Apache could be outvoted 15-1 on the SE/EE committee,
and it has no vote on the ME committee.
"So, why hasn't Sun just submitted the Java SE 7 platform JSR
and accepted/ignored Apache's No vote?
"Well, until recently, I thought that the reasons were all
private information. However, it turns out that since September
2008, the Executive Committee meeting minutes have been openly
published. As such, we can see how the Executive Committees have
tried to resolve the issue. As far as I know, no journalist or blog
has yet picked up on this."