This week seems to be particularly bad for Big Names and their stance on such things as Net Neutrality and Software Patents, first Vint Cerf (who after Jon Postel was my internet hero #2) and now James Gosling, who seems to imply prior knowledge that this one was in the cards.
So, if he saw their eyes sparkle that means that he is saying that he had an inkling that they were going to use that patent, and then he says "I hope to avoid getting dragged into the fray".
Great guy, not only does he sell a cocked gun to a company that is well known for using guns, on top of that he hopes that he's not even going to have to testify.
So he must have been in on the negotiations only because of his name being on those patents, or his unique understanding of those patents or something to that effect.
I find it strange to see him talking to the Oracle lawyers explaining the patent situations in a 'we're selling you this asset with which you can attack google' mode, and to come out now and act all surprised and 'I hope I don't get dragged in to it' mode.
He should probably expect to get dragged in to it, most likely by Googles council as a witness for the defense.
If he presented it to Oracle in a way that 'made their lawyers eyes sparkle' that sounds like he presented it in a very favorable light (for Oracle and Sun) during those meetings, if he's going to be dragged in to it he will have to repeat his stance on why this is something that Oracle can do in court or he'll risk being sued by Oracle for misrepresentation during the meetings with Oracle if he comes down on the defense side with his point of view.
I really wouldn't want to be in his shoes, this could get very nasty. And it could damage the Java brand considerably.
He didn't say he was in on the negotiations. He said he was in the integration meetings, presumably after the sale had been agreed. So he didn't say 'we're selling you X', he said 'you've been sold X'.
Also, it's not clear whether any special presentation was needed to make the lawyers' eyes sparkle, other the mere possibility of extracting licensing fees from Google.
I just felt it cogent to point out that the article linked is a mere 71 words, while your above analysis of the situation is 215. I think you may be reading too much into this...
It isn't clear whether the integration meetings Gosling referred to occurred before, or after, the Sun-Oracle deal was made. Whatever the case, I expect Gosling was asked to attend those meetings as a Sun employee, and that he explained the patent situation in an open and honest manner.
What do you think Gosling should have done? Deceived Oracle during the acquisition talks because he didn't like what they were planning to do?
dragged in to it he will have to repeat his stance on why this is something that Oracle can do in court
Where has Gosling said he won't repeat the same stance?
Having been acquired a couple of times, "integration meetings" normally occur after the deal is made public but before it closes. So the decision would already have been made.
So, if he saw their eyes sparkle that means that he is saying that he had an inkling that they were going to use that patent, and then he says "I hope to avoid getting dragged into the fray".
Great guy, not only does he sell a cocked gun to a company that is well known for using guns, on top of that he hopes that he's not even going to have to testify.