FULL PRODUCT VERSION :
java version "1.8.0_71"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_71-b15)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.71-b15, mixed mode)


ADDITIONAL OS VERSION INFORMATION :
Darwin Kernel Version 15.0.0: Sat Sep 19 15:53:46 PDT 2015; root:xnu-3247.10.11~1/RELEASE_X86_64 x86_64

EXTRA RELEVANT SYSTEM CONFIGURATION :
MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2014)
Graphics Intel Iris Pro 1536 MB

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
I am displaying a menu when clicking a button, and the menu items have tooltips (having tooltips is important; without tooltips the problem doesn't happen). When hovering over the items, in 1-2 seconds the menu loses focus and the tooltip does not get displayed.

REGRESSION. Last worked in version 6u45

ADDITIONAL REGRESSION INFORMATION:
I actually have a Java 1.6.0_65-b14-468 on which I tested.

STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM :
1. Click button
2. Hover over menu item which has tooltip (the first one)

EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR :
EXPECTED -
The tooltip should be shown and the highlight shown when hovering should not disappear.
ACTUAL -
The menu loses focus (at least the highlight shown when hovering disappears) and the tooltip does not get displayed.

REPRODUCIBILITY :
This bug can be reproduced always.

---------- BEGIN SOURCE ----------
import java.awt.Component;
import java.awt.GridBagLayout;
import java.awt.Point;
import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
import java.awt.event.ActionListener;

import javax.swing.JButton;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JMenuItem;
import javax.swing.JPopupMenu;

public class LetsPlay extends JFrame {
  JButton jb;

  JPopupMenu menu;

  JMenuItem m1, m2, m3;

  public LetsPlay() {
    createAndShowGUI();
  }

  private void createAndShowGUI() {
    // Set frame properties
    setTitle("Menu Button");
    setLayout(new GridBagLayout());
    setDefaultCloseOperation(EXIT_ON_CLOSE);

    // Create JButtons
    jb = new JButton("Button");

    // Create a JPopupMenu
    menu = new JPopupMenu();

    // Create JMenuItems
    m1 = new JMenuItem("Item 1");
    m1.setToolTipText("Extra info 1");
    m2 = new JMenuItem("Item 2");
    m3 = new JMenuItem("Item 3");

    // Add JMenuItems to JPopupMenu
    menu.add(m1);
    menu.add(m2);
    menu.add(m3);

    // Create an ActionListener
    ActionListener a1 = new ActionListener() {
      @Override
      public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent ae) {
        showPopup(ae);
      }
    };

    // Add ActionListener to JButtons
    jb.addActionListener(a1);

    // Add the JButtons
    add(jb);

    // Set some size and show
    setSize(400, 400);
    setVisible(true);
  }

  // This method does it all!
  private void showPopup(ActionEvent ae) {
    // Get the event source
    Component b = (Component) ae.getSource();

    // Get the location of the point 'on the screen'
    Point p = b.getLocationOnScreen();

    menu.show(this, 0, 0);

    // Now set the location of the JPopupMenu
    // This location is relative to the screen
    menu.setLocation(p.x, p.y + b.getHeight());
  }

  /**
   *
   * @param args
   */
  public static void main(String args[]) {
    new LetsPlay();
  }
}
---------- END SOURCE ----------

CUSTOMER SUBMITTED WORKAROUND :
No workaround.