FULL PRODUCT VERSION :
 1.8.0_73-b02

Also seen in earlier versions (1.8.0_60, for e.g.)

ADDITIONAL OS VERSION INFORMATION :
Microsoft Windows [Version 6.3.9600] (Win 8.1)

Also seen on Win 7.

EXTRA RELEVANT SYSTEM CONFIGURATION :
Any Win 8.1 or Win 7 machine. No special requirements. Copy the supplied x.doc file (it's empty) to a local folder and open it using MS Word. On my system, the file is opened in Compatibility mode, which I suspect causes MS Word to obtain certain locks. Run the supplied java code to see getChannel() on that same file block until MS Word is closed.

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
We use the getChannel() function of a RandomAccessFile object as a means for obtaining a read lock. We find that getChannel() block indefinitely under certain circumstances. For e.g.,
if getChannel() is attempted on the supplied y.doc file while it's open in MS Word 2013, getChannel() blocks indefinitely. Closing MS Word causes getChannel to complete successfully. Note that it's important to open y.doc in Compatibility mode because, I suspect, that causes the acquisition by MS Word of certain locks that blocks getChannnel().



STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM :
Open supplied file, y.doc, using Microsoft Word 2013.
Compile and run the supplied code (main.java and FileLock1.java).
Code repeatedly calls getChannel() on 'y.doc' every second
getChannel() blocks indefinitely whenever y.doc is open in MS Word. Other

EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR :
EXPECTED -
Expected behavior would a return code from getChannel() indicating an error, possibly because file was opened by some other app with certain locks. Indefinite blockage is certainly not desirable.
ACTUAL -
getChannel() blocks indefinitely.

REPRODUCIBILITY :
This bug can be reproduced always.

---------- BEGIN SOURCE ----------
/****************** main.java **************************/

import java.io.*;

class main
{
    public static void main(final String[] args) {
        do {
            File f = new File("y.doc");
            FileLock1 fl=new FileLock1(f);
            System.out.println("Got Lock");
            fl.release();
            // Sleep for 1 sec.
            try {
               Thread.currentThread().sleep(1000);
            } catch (Exception e) {
                tsp("_sleep: " + e);
           }

        } while(true);
   }
}

/********************** FileLock1.java ******************************/
import java.io.*;
import java.util.*;
import java.nio.channels.*;

public class FileLock1 {
    FileLock lock;
    FileChannel channel;

    public FileLock1(File f)
    {
        try {
            if (f==null) return;
            if (!f.exists()) return;
            if (f.isDirectory()) return; // Can't lock dir.
            channel = new RandomAccessFile(f, "r").getChannel();
            if (channel == null) return;
            // System.out.println("Trying lock");
            lock = channel.lock(0, Long.MAX_VALUE, true);
        } catch (Exception e) {
            System.out.println("FileLock1 failed for " + f + ": " + e);
        }
    }

    public boolean gotLock() {
        return lock != null;
    }

    public void release()
    {
        try {
            if (lock != null) {
                lock.release();
                lock=null;
            }
            if (channel != null) {
                channel.close();
            }
        } catch (Exception e) {
            System.out.println("FileLock1: release lock/channel failed: " + e);
        }
    }
}



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

CUSTOMER SUBMITTED WORKAROUND :
No workaround is currently known.