FULL PRODUCT VERSION :
java version "1.6.0_23"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.6.0_23-b05)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 19.0-b09, mixed mode)

ADDITIONAL OS VERSION INFORMATION :
Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7600]

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
HttpURLConnection is unable to process non-standard HTTP methods like "PROPFIND" (WebDAV) or "PATCH".

This is a major issue as PROPFIND and PATCH are not uncommon and gain more attenation with RESTful services and the rise of supporting APIs like JAX-RS.

It makes no sense to restrict the set of possible methods, and it was never HTTP's intention to be restricted in that way (it is specifying just a base set of methods), so the restriction has to be removed ASAP.

This is a showstopper for anybody in the need of connecting to WebDAV or PATCHable resources!

STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM :
HttpURLConnection c = url.openConnection();
c.setRequestMethod("PROPFIND");
c.getInputStream();

EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR :
EXPECTED -
Will execute PROPFIND.
ACTUAL -
 java.net.ProtocolException: Invalid HTTP method: PROPFIND
at java.net.HttpURLConnection.setRequestMethod(Unknown Source)

ERROR MESSAGES/STACK TRACES THAT OCCUR :
 java.net.ProtocolException: Invalid HTTP method: PROPFIND
at java.net.HttpURLConnection.setRequestMethod(Unknown Source)

REPRODUCIBILITY :
This bug can be reproduced always.

---------- BEGIN SOURCE ----------
see above
---------- END SOURCE ----------

CUSTOMER SUBMITTED WORKAROUND :
Using URLConnection and implement HTTP manually or use a third party HTTP library. Both breaks the WORA principle as whether PROPFIND works or not is dependent on something not told in the JavaDocs of HttpURLConnection!