Hi all, On Mon, 2006-11-13 at 09:28 +0100, Mark Wielaard wrote: > On Mon, 2006-11-13 at 15:54 +0900, fchoong@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote: > > Java to be Freed tomorrow!! Way to go Sun! > > > > http://www.theserverside.com/news/thread.tss?thread_id=43046 > > > > http://www.javalobby.org/java/forums/t84244.html > > Yes. Thank you Sun! Some more links for your reading pleasure: > http://blogs.zdnet.com/Burnette/?p=199 > http://blogs.zdnet.com/Burnette/?p=200 > > And guess what they mean with "following established free software > community practices for licensing virtual machines and their associated > libraries". Yes! They will use the GPL and the GPL+exception! And there is some real information available now at: http://www.sun.com/software/opensource/java/ Make sure you read the FAQ which is pretty nice: http://www.sun.com/software/opensource/java/faq.jsp You will notice some really nice things like: Q: What is the Classpath exception? A: The Classpath exception was developed by the Free Software Foundation's GNU/Classpath Project (see http://www.gnu.org/software/classpath/license.html). It allows you to link an application available under any license to a library that is part of software licensed under GPL v2, without that application being subject to the GPL's requirement to be itself offered to the public under the GPL. Q: Why do you need the Classpath exception? A: If an application is distributed with an implementation of Java such as the JDK under GPL v2, that application could be subject to the requirements of the GPL that all code that is shipped as part of a Òwork based on the [GPL] programÓ also be GPL licensed. Accordingly, a GPL license exception is needed that specifically excludes from this licensing requirement any application that links to the GPL implementation. The Classpath exception accomplishes this. Without the Classpath exception, a Java SE implementation licensed under GPL v2 could not practically be distributed with non-GPL licensed Java applications. This could present a serious barrier to adoption, for example by OpenSolaris or GNU/Linux distributions if left unaddressed. Q: Why did you choose this licensing method? A: This is the licensing paradigm in common use within Free software communities such as GNU/Classpath and Kaffe for the components of a Java technology implementation including the virtual machine and class libraries. We consciously chose the same licensing method so that there would be no temptation to second guess Sun's intention to make its Java SE implementation available under a genuinely Free and open license. And please do join some of us on irc.gnu.org in #classpath we might not have answers yet for all the wonderful things the future might bring, but we can at least have a little virtual party! :) Cheers, Mark
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