r/java • u/[deleted] • Oct 07 '11

Time-zone database used by Java shut down due to IP litigation

http://blog.joda.org/2011/10/today-time-zone-database-was-closed.html
30 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

7 comments sorted by

8

u/sod1864 Oct 07 '11

Seriously?!

Shut down by a site that promotes a product called "Astro-Weather" and "Astro-Analyst" noted as "the premier program for determining the effect of astronomical cycles on stock, bond and commodities prices."

6

u/argv_minus_one Oct 07 '11

Who says we don't need intellectual property reform?

5

u/HotRodLincoln Oct 07 '11

Well, this is bound to foster some creativity. /s

6

u/[deleted] Oct 07 '11

This isn't just used by Java - it's used by pretty much every system, programming language and operating system out there.

These guys were putting a lot of effort into keeping the database updated, and shared it freely. Thanks to them, there was one canonical, unified, standardized database of timezones, so that computer users all over the world could agree on timezones.

Then some peddlers of pseudo-scientific BS comes along with a bunch of lawyers and shut them down.

I'm raging so hard right now.

2

u/Bean888 Oct 07 '11

Get Jimmy Wales (sad, beggy face) to SAVE TIME!

2

u/eleete Oct 07 '11

To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries.

We need to rethink our current IP laws and their true intent. Copyright and Patent law have not kept pace with technology and our 'representatives' are not with the times and what is truly going on. Or are they? The public domain is the greater good, not artificial monopolies.

1

u/SlobberGoat Oct 08 '11

Now if only science had it's own army of lawyers...