+ /**
+ * Compares the two objects and returns whether they are equal according to
+ * {@link Object#equals(Object)}. This method takes <code>null</code>
+ * into account as a valid value for an object.
+ *
+ * @param first
+ * The first object
+ * @param second
+ * The second object
+ * @return <code>true</code> if the two objects are equal,
+ * <code>false</code> otherwise
+ */
+ protected boolean equal(Object first, Object second) {
+ return ((first == null) && (second == null)) || ((first != null) && first.equals(second)) || ((second != null) && second.equals(first));
+ }
+