Java Standard Rejected by Global Group

Sun Microsystems Inc. said its Java Internet language was rejected as an international standard on concerns about Sun keeping control of the Java trademark and the standards process. The International Organization for Standardization, or ISO, vote gives Sun a chance to respond to member comments. Sun wants recognition of the language as a standard to prevent others, notably Microsoft Corp., from altering it to their advantage. ISO member countries expressed concern about a company being in charge of a standard. Some countries said Sun should be prevented from keeping the copyright, being the only organization that certifies whether products meet the standard and being be the sole submitter of advancements to the language. Java is a computer language used to write programs stored on central computers and designed to run on operating systems made by many different companies. After the U.S. in June voted against the proposal, Sun began to expect the overall vote would go against it. Sun has said that much of the concern comes from it being the first company to ask ISO to let it submit and maintain a standard. Microsoft was a vocal critic of the plan. Shares of Mountain View-based Sun rose 75 cents to close at $46.44 on Nasdaq.