For most developers, JavaScript is the backbone of modern web development. But recently, a trademark dispute has brought its name into the spotlight—and the story behind it is stranger than fiction.
If you’ve been around the JavaScript ecosystem lately, you might’ve seen disclaimers like:
“JavaScript is a trademark of Oracle Corporation.”
Why is Oracle, a company known for databases—not front-end frameworks or developer tools—involved in the JavaScript name at all? The history is surprisingly tangled.
How JavaScript Got Its Name (and Its Trademark)
Let’s rewind to 1995, when the web was still young and Netscape ruled the browser market. The company needed a scripting language to make websites more interactive. What started as Mocha, then briefly LiveScript, eventually became JavaScript—but not for technical reasons.
Back then, Sun Microsystems was generating hype with a language called Java, promising developers the dream of “write once, run anywhere.” Netscape jumped on the bandwagon, partnering with Sun and renaming their new scripting language to JavaScript, hoping to ride Java’s popularity.
It worked. Developers took notice, and JavaScript quickly became a core part of the web.
But here’s the twist: Sun Microsystems trademarked the name “JavaScript”, even though JavaScript and Java are fundamentally different languages.
Enter Oracle
Fast forward to 2009: Oracle acquired Sun Microsystems, inheriting its assets—including the JavaScript trademark.
Yet Oracle has never had a hand in JavaScript’s evolution. That’s handled by ECMA International, which oversees the ECMAScript standard (yes, that awkward name many devs now recognize).
This setup has caused headaches over the years:
- Conferences have had to rebrand to avoid using “JavaScript.”
- Frameworks and content creators walk on eggshells with legal disclaimers.
- Official publications often opt for “ECMAScript” just to stay safe.
Developers Are Pushing Back
In late 2024, the community had enough. Big names—including Brendan Eich (JavaScript’s creator) and Ryan Dahl (creator of Node.js and Deno)—signed an open letter to Oracle, urging them to relinquish the trademark.
"You have long ago abandoned the JavaScript trademark and it is causing widespread, unwarranted confusion and disruption."
Shortly after, Deno Inc. formally filed a petition to cancel Oracle’s trademark.
What This Means for the Future
If successful, the cancellation could:
- Allow conferences to proudly use “JavaScript” again
- Let the ECMAScript standard finally embrace the JavaScript name
- Give developers and creators peace of mind when branding content
This moment marks a shift. We’ve gone from browser wars, to framework wars, and now into the trademark wars.
Why This Matters
Even though this might sound like legal red tape, it touches every corner of the JavaScript ecosystem—from documentation to community identity.
If you're a developer invested in the web, this is more than trivia—it's about the language's freedom, clarity, and future.
JavaScript is more than a language—it’s a legacy. Reclaiming its name is a step toward respecting the community that built it.