class ItemComparator implements Comparator, Serializable {

    @Override
    public boolean equals(Object obj)
    {
        if (!(obj instanceof ItemComparator))
        {
            return false;
        }

        ItemComparator other = (ItemComparator) obj;

        return equalsWithNull(element, other.element)
                && equalsWithNull(qualifier, other.qualifier)
                && equalsWithNull(language, other.language) && (max == other.max);
    }

    public  ItemComparator(String element, String qualifier, String language,
            boolean max);

}