FULL PRODUCT VERSION :
java version "1.6.0_06"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.6.0_06-b02)
Java HotSpot(TM) Server VM (build 10.0-b22, mixed mode)

Also tested on 1.6.0_10-rc:
java version "1.6.0_10-rc"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.6.0_10-rc-b28)
Java HotSpot(TM) Server VM (build 11.0-b15, mixed mode)


ADDITIONAL OS VERSION INFORMATION :
Linux arachne 2.6.24-19-generic #1 SMP Fri Jul 11 23:41:49 UTC 2008 i686 GNU/Linux
Ubuntu 8.04.1


A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
Javac fails to compile a class containing a call to a public method with a varargs argument, when another applicable method with protected access modifier (i.e. not accessible) is present in the callee type.

STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM :
Create p1/Caller.java with this content:
--- BEGIN p1/Caller.java ---
package p1;

import p2.Callee;

public class Caller {
public void bar() {
Callee.foo(new Object());
}
}
--- END p1/Caller.java ---

Create p2/Caller.java with this content:
--- BEGIN p2/Callee.java ---
package p2;

public class Callee {
public static void foo(final Object... varargs) {
};

protected static void foo(final Object singleArg) {
};
}
--- END p2/Callee.java ---

Try to compile both using "javac p1/Caller.java p2/Callee.java".

EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR :
EXPECTED -
No warnings/errors, class files are generated, call to the varargs method is generated.
ACTUAL -
The compiler fails to compile the source code, producing no class files.

ERROR MESSAGES/STACK TRACES THAT OCCUR :
p1/Caller.java:7: foo(java.lang.Object) has protected access in p2.Callee
Callee.foo(new Object());
                      ^
1 error


REPRODUCIBILITY :
This bug can be reproduced always.

---------- BEGIN SOURCE ----------
--- BEGIN p1/Caller.java ---
package p1;

import p2.Callee;

public class Caller {
public void bar() {
Callee.foo(new Object());
}
}
--- END p1/Caller.java ---

--- BEGIN p2/Callee.java ---
package p2;

public class Callee {
public static void foo(final Object... varargs) {
};

protected static void foo(final Object singleArg) {
};
}
--- END p2/Callee.java ---

---------- END SOURCE ----------

CUSTOMER SUBMITTED WORKAROUND :
Remove the protected method or change it's name or signature so that it is no longer applicable to the call.