The current javadoc spec reads:

public void seek(long pos) throws IOException

    Sets the file-pointer offset, measured from the beginning of this file, at which the next read or write
    occurs. The offset may be set beyond the end of the file. Setting the offset beyond the end of the file does
    not change the file length. The file length will change only by writing after the offset has been set beyond
    the end of the file.
    Parameters:
        pos - the offset position, measured in bytes from the beginning of the file, at which to set the file
        pointer.
    Throws:
        IOException - if an I/O error occurs.

--------------------

Spec should specify that an IOException is thrown if pos less than 0.

-----
mr has indicated that this is correct, see bug 4140804
Please update javadoc for 1.2 so we can enforce the JCK test, thanks!
This was previously specified in the old JLS, but there have been (correct)
updates to the seek() spec since the original JLS was published.