Together Teamlosungen: Enhydra Server Becomes Free Software

Business Wire, Nov 14, 2003

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

VIENNA, Austria--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 14, 2003

Together Teamlosungen acquired Enhydra copyrights to release the

popular server under LGPL. This is a major milestone of the on-going

merge of Enhydra and ObjectWeb communities.

Together Teamlosungen EDV-Dienstleistungen GmbH, an Austrian company specialized in groupware, document management and workflow, purchased copyrights, documentation, source code and trademarks of the popular Enhydra Server - a Java/XML(1) application server.

The agreement between Lutris Technologies Inc., who initiated the Enhydra project in 1995, and Together Teamlosungen, an ObjectWeb member, who took on the lead of the project in April 2002, is now effective. Under the terms of this agreement, Together Teamlosungen becomes the owner of Enhydra trademarks, logos, documentation and source code copyrights.

Enhydra Server to be Distributed under LGPL

Enhydra Server was so far distributed under the restrictive shared-source "Enhydra Public License". As the new copyright owner, Together Teamlosungen will distribute Enhydra Server under the LGPL(2), thus making Enhydra Server "Free Software" for real. The LGPL is arguably one of the most famous Open Source licenses, fully in line with the "Free Software" spirit, which ensures durability to non-profit open-source projects.

Alfred Madl, CEO of Together Teamlosungen EDV-Dienstleistungen GmbH. and Enhydra Server project leader, explains: "Open Source is the key to the adoption of cutting-edge middleware in the enterprise. Enhydra Server is a recognized application server, but we wanted to go a step further to guarantee the durability and the success of this project."

ObjectWeb and Enhydra: Two Open Source Communities Are Coming Together as One

Enhydra is not a newcomer in the world of Java application servers: the platform has a 9-year record of success. In April 2002, ObjectWeb - the international consortium focused on open-source middleware - took over the hosting of Enhydra's code repository, although the software was not licensed according to ObjectWeb's guidelines.

Eighteen months later, tremendous synergies have been set up between the two communities who are behind ObjectWeb and Enhydra. Their merge is about to be sealed by the impending settlement of copyright and licensing issues. Enhydra.org projects will be incrementally moved to the objectweb.org facility.

Together Teamlosungen also considers donating Enhydra's code to ObjectWeb. "As an ObjectWeb LGPL platform, Enhydra Server will undoubtedly be very well armed to stay in the limelight for many years." said Madl.

Enhydra Server 6.0 Will be Based on JOnAS

The future version 6.0 of Enhydra Server will be based on JOnAS - ObjectWeb's J2EE server. This is possible thanks to the recent change of Enhydra Server to a modular and flexible design. It will ensure upward compatibility with previous releases of the platform, with the additional benefits of a full J2EE environment. Enhydra Server will support Web Services through the integration of Axis in JOnAS.

"The evolution of Enhydra Server towards a JOnAS-based architecture demonstrates that ObjectWeb's component-oriented development strategy enhances the durability and reusability of open-source projects," explained Christophe Ney, President of ObjectWeb's Executive Committee. "We're happy to record that synergy fostered Enhydra's innovation and we will keep developing fruitful cooperation with other open-source communities".

About Together Teamlosungen

Founded in 1996 Together Teamlosungen EDV-Dienstleistungen GmbH. is part of the GrECo International insurance brokers Group and specialized in the areas of Java/XML based middleware, document management and groupware / workflow solutions. Actively supporting the open source movement Together Teamlosungen is constantly contributing to several open source middleware projects of the ObjectWeb consortium. Providing highly specialised applications to its customers Together Teamlosungen is operating in Vienna / Austria, Bratislava / Slovakia and Belgrade / Serbia.

About ObjectWeb

Founded by Bull, France Telecom and INRIA, ObjectWeb is a worldwide consortium of leading enterprises and research organizations that have joined efforts to produce next generation open-source Middleware. ObjectWeb's goal is to bring to Real-Time Enterprise independence, quality, and robustness with the best performance/cost ratio that it requires. ObjectWeb targets alternative solutions to proprietary products addressing e-business, EAI, data connectivity, grid computing, and enterprise messaging. Based on Open Standards, ObjectWeb's middleware includes application servers, components, frameworks and tools. Examples of ObjectWeb's "cost killer" middleware are JOnAS - an open-source implementation of J2EE specification, JORAM JMS - a Message Oriented Middleware and Enhydra - Java/XML Application Server. ObjectWeb is hosted by INRIA.

- Java, J2EE and all Java-based trademarks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. The ObjectWeb logo is a registered trademark of INRIA. All other names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.