Oracle Allows Java SE Licensees to Retain Per-Processor or Per-User Plans
Current Oracle Java SE licensees are not required to switch to the company’s new Java subscription plan, which charges based on the number of employees rather than the number of actual Java users. Their existing Java SE licenses and related support offerings will continue under the same terms they have always had.
The new per-employee licensing model, known as the Java SE Universal Subscription, is being offered to new customers. However, Oracle still maintains a significant number of customers operating under the previous Java SE licenses, which are based on the number of users or processors. This information was confirmed by Georges Saab, Oracle’s senior vice president of development, in a recent interview.
“For existing customers, it’s up to them to choose,” Saab stated. He emphasized that customers can renew their subscriptions under the same terms they originally agreed to, a practice that has always been in place. The Java SE Universal Subscription replaced the legacy Java SE Subscription and Java SE Desktop Subscription plans as of January 23, 2023. Oracle’s FAQ clarifies that “Customers of the legacy Java SE Subscription products continue to receive all the original benefits and may renew under their existing terms and metrics.”
The introduction of the Universal plan initially raised concerns about potentially higher licensing costs. Saab explained that the new plan was developed in response to some customers who sought a simpler way to determine their licensing costs, preferring a method that did not require counting processors or named users. “They wanted something that was easier for them to count,” Saab explained.
Despite some customers transitioning to the new employee-based metric, Oracle’s competitors claim to have gained from the new licensing model. For instance, the Eclipse Foundation reported a significant increase in downloads of its Temurin Java distribution. Oracle has been offering subscriptions for its Java distribution, which includes support and updates, for over four years and currently serves more than 10,000 customers.
Overall, Oracle’s decision to allow existing Java SE licensees to retain their current plans provides flexibility and continuity for its long-standing customers, while the new Universal Subscription model offers a simpler alternative for new adopters.