Does Oracle have rights to my code?
java, licensing, oracle
Solution
If I write software in Java, am I free to release that software and its source code?
Absolutely.
Are there restrictions on how I can license it?
None whatsoever. (Or at least, not based on the fact that it is written in Java.)
Does Oracle have any rights to it?
No.
The only (possibly) relevant rights Oracle have are to do with your distributing modified versions of the Java platform ... or using the Java trademarks inappropriately.
... but the group I'm working with raised some concerns about licensing.
It is safe to say that the people who raised those concerns haven't got a clue.
Problem
I'm about to write some software for an academic research project. I'm hoping to write it in Java, but the group I'm working with raised some concerns about licensing. I originally though these were silly questions, but I'm having trouble finding definitive answers: If I write software in Java, am I free to release that software and its source code? Are there restrictions on how I can license it? Does Oracle have any rights to it?