New JSR submissions have been declining since the early 2000s, potentially because the Java language and J2SE are now complete and J2EE became irrelevant as individual specs like Servlets matured. J2ME also struggled after the iPhone launch. This decline is unlikely related to later events like the Oracle acquisition or lawsuit, and politics do not explain it either. Nevertheless, many important JCP standards from the past will remain relevant and the JCP continues to be an effective standards body.

1. New JSRs submitted.
80
60
40
20
0
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

2. Potential reasons.
- J2SE & Java Language is complete, not
much more to add
- J2EE as a broader spec became increasingly
irrelevant, usable pieces like Servlet et al.
are complete.
- J2ME is in a tough spot since the release of
the iPhone.

3. Unlikely reasons.
- The Oracle acquisition was after the drop.
- The Oracle/Google lawsuit was even later.
- JCP process changes and open-source
licensing disputes.

4. Anyway...
- Numerous valuable specs came out of the
JCP and will remain relevant for a long time.
- All politics aside, the JCP was and still
remains a very effective standardization
body with a great working model.