Andrew John Hughes wrote: > Interestingly, I do wonder if they can even use this work in OpenJDK, > given the Apache v2 license and GPLv2 are incompatible. The Classpath > exception only helps when it comes to wanting to write proprietary > Java programs and run them on OpenJDK (at least, that's my reading - > IANAL).
IANAL either, and the license for OpenJDK is hard to figure out. But I think it is ok. AIUI... OpenJDK is offered under the GPLv2 [1] with the Classpath Exception applied at the end [2] which modifies some terms of the GPLv2 applying to 'independent modules not derived from or based on the library'. Fine. Then there is the Assembly Exception [3] which says combining OpenJDK with any code except the "designated exception modules" results in the entire work being GPLv2. The designated exception modules [4] are files marked with the classpath exception in source code, code from Sun under the binary license [5], and other open source files distributed from their website(*). It is this last point (*) that makes it ok to include Apache code in OpenJDK -- well that and the fact that it is Sun's project so they can do as they please with their code :-) [1] http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.txt [2] http://openjdk.java.net/legal/gplv2+ce.html [3] http://openjdk.java.net/legal/assembly-exception.html [4] http://openjdk.java.net/legal/exception-modules-2007-05-08.html [5] http://openjdk.java.net/legal/binary-license-2007-08-02.html Regards, Tim
