GNU CLASSPATH LICENSE INFORMATION

The intention of this file is to explain what parts of GNU Classpath are
distributed under which Copyright License, the implications this has for
distributing derived works based on the different parts of GNU Classpath
and the GNU Classpath license history.

For the actual copyright license and distribution terms (GNU GPL) see the
COPYING file and the individual Copyright notices at the top of each file
in this distribution (some of which contain a specific exception).

For more information please contact the classpath mailinglist
<mailto:address@hidden> and/or contact <mailto:address@hidden>.

For general questions about the GNU GPL please see the Frequently Asked
Questions about the GNU GPL at <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html>.
In particular the following questions which explain how the GPL applies
to Object Oriented languages like Java and/or interpreted languages.

- In an object-oriented language such as Java, if I use a class that is
  GPL'ed without modifying, and subclassing it, in what way does the GPL
  affect the larger program?
  <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#OOPLang>
- If a programming language interpreter is released under the GPL, does
  that mean programs written to be interpreted by it must be under
  GPL-compatible licenses?
  <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#IfInterpreterIsGPL>
- If a programming language interpreter has a license that is incompatible
  with the GPL, can I run GPL covered programs on it?
  <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#InterpreterIncompat>


WHAT PARTS OF GNU CLASSPATH CAN BE DISTRIBUTED UNDER WHICH COPYRIGHT LICENSE

All parts of GNU Classpath and any derived works can be distributed under
the GNU GPL. See the file COPYING for the exact terms of the GNU GPL.

Most files come with following special exception:

    As a special exception, if you link this library with other files to
    produce an executable, this library does not by itself cause the
    resulting executable to be covered by the GNU General Public License.
    This exception does not however invalidate any other reasons why the
    executable file might be covered by the GNU General Public License.

This is the same exception as can be found on most runtime libraries
distributed with the GNU Compiler Collection (GCC).

Note that all files which implement the Abstract Window Toolkit (AWT) in
the packages (gnu.)java.awt and any 'subpackages' do not contain this
exception. This means that if you want to distribute GNU Classpath or a
derived work based on GNU Classpath and take advantage of the exception you
will have to remove all these files.

We are currently not distributing these parts separately so unless you
explicitly remove all files implementing the AWT you can only distribute
Classpath or any derived works under the GPL.

Note that the implementation of the following packages depends on the
java.awt.* packages. The files that implement these packages do contain
the exception mentioned above but they are not usable without the AWT
implementation files. You will only be able to use these packages and
distribute them under the GNU GPL + exception when you completely replace
all AWT implementation files from GNU Classpath with a version of the AWT
which does not invalidate the exception. The packages in question are:

- java.applet
- java.beans


IMPLICATIONS FOR DISTRIBUTING DERIVED WORKS BASED ON GNU CLASSPATH

    XXX - TO BE DONE
    Should include implications for VM writers, with and without including
    AWT classes or packages depending on AWT classes.


GNU CLASSPATH LICENSE HISTORY

    XXX - TO BE DONE
    Should explain what versions and what parts of GNU Classpath were
    distributed under which licenses in the past and why the license
    was changed.