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So implementing the JVM under the GPL is legal and patent free? A group of companies could get behind an independent JVM already in progress, refine it and back
by lhnn 16y ago
So implementing the JVM under the GPL is legal and patent free? A group of companies could get behind an independent JVM already in progress, refine it and back it, without Oracle interference?
- wmf 16y agoNo, you only get patent protection if you use Oracle's GPL code (OpenJDK). If you write your own (e.g. GCJ, Kaffe) there's less protection.
- lhnn 16y agoSo someone could fork OpenJDK indefinitely without merging and be protected? Where is all of this documented? Where is the primary source on patent/licensing dangers of (writing/forking a JVM|creating your own "version" of Java)? I don't like asking a lot of questions, but I don't know where to look.
- jsmcgd 16y agoReading the GPL should answer a lot of your questions. http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html
- apgwoz 16y ago> No, you only get patent protection if you use Oracle's GPL code (OpenJDK). If you write your own (e.g. GCJ, Kaffe) there's less protection. Which leads to the question, how much of the original fork must you maintain in order to be safe?