Summary

After support of applets and webstart was removed the spec and implementation in the java.awt.Desktop.browse(URI) became outdated:

Problem

The java.awt.Desktop.browse(URI) does not work as specified.

Solution

Drop the code and specification which were added in this fix:

https://bugs.openjdk.java.net/browse/JDK-6439864

https://bugs.openjdk.java.net/browse/CCC-6439864

Specification

src/java.desktop/share/classes/java/awt/Desktop.java

      * defined by the {@code URI} class.
-     * <p>
-     * If the calling thread does not have the necessary permissions,
-     * and this is invoked from within an applet,
-     * {@code AppletContext.showDocument()} is used. Similarly, if the calling
-     * does not have the necessary permissions, and this is invoked from within
-     * a Java Web Started application, {@code BasicService.showDocument()}
-     * is used.
      *
      * @param uri the URI to be displayed in the user default browser
      * @throws NullPointerException if {@code uri} is {@code null}
..............
      * @throws SecurityException if a security manager exists and it
      * denies the
      * {@code AWTPermission("showWindowWithoutWarningBanner")}
      * permission, or the calling thread is not allowed to create a
-     * subprocess; and not invoked from within an applet or Java Web Started
-     * application
-     * @throws IllegalArgumentException if the necessary permissions
-     * are not available and the URI can not be converted to a {@code URL}
+     * subprocess
      * @see java.net.URI
      * @see java.awt.AWTPermission
-     * @see java.applet.AppletContext
      */
     public void browse(URI uri) throws IOException {