code: public static boolean isEqual(Object value1, Object value2) {
  
          if (value1 == null) {
              return (value2 == null);
          }
          return value1.equals(value2);
      }
docs: Returns <code>true</code> if the provided Objects are either both <code>null</code>
  or equal according to {@link Object#equals(Object)}.<p>
  
  @param value1 the first object to compare
  @param value2 the second object to compare
  
  @return <code>true</code> if the provided Objects are either both <code>null</code>
  or equal according to {@link Object#equals(Object)}