Frequently Asked Questions About Licensing

Source Code vs. Binaries

Do I need source code to write applets or applications?

No. All you need to write applets or applications is the Java Developer's Kit (JDK). You only need source code if you want to merge our OEM source code into a product (commercial or noncommercial), port the Java language to another platform, or another use that specifically requires reviewing the source.

What is in the JDK? How do I get it?

The Java Developer's Kit (JDK) contains the Java interpreter, compiler (javac), the debugger (jdb), and the AppletViewer. Refer to the Binary License Agreement to agree to the binary license and download these binaries.

Non-Commercial Use of Source Code

I want to review the beta source code and I'm not planning on using it for any commercial purpose. How do I get it?

If you aren't planning on incorporating Java into a commercial product, or doing any sort of external redistribution, we have an internal use source license available at no charge. Please see the following URL:

http://java.sun.com/source_form.html

You will need to download a two-page license agreement, read and sign it, then fax it back to us at (408) 343-1483. When we receive the fax, we email you the full instructions for downloading your personal copy of the source.

May I pass Java Source Code to employees belonging to other departments and/or divisions of my company, after I fax the signed form and get the Source Code ?

The Java Internal Source License is not intended to be distributed freely by third parties. We require that a distribution within your company be limited in scope to under 25 people, who in turn may not distribute this source and are bound by the terms of the original agreement. For any additional distribution within a company another Internal Use Source License must be executed.

On the other hand, you may redistribute binaries that you create from the source code, such as additional ports of the Java language. You may make such binaries available widely on the World-Wide Web, for example. We do require that there is no charge for them, the notices are passed on, and the binary code license is passed on and adhered to.

If I am porting Java to another platform, what parts am I allowed to share with other developers?

You may not distribute the original source or your modified version of the source. As long as you are distributing only binaries and not source, you are permitted to distribute the port of the Java technology, provided you pass on all the copyright and trademark information, and the binary use license. Please refer to our web site for the full text of the binary license.

Commercial Use of Source Code

How do I know if I need a commercial source code license?

The only time commercial source licensing is required is if you want to take our OEM source code and merge it into a commercial product. For example, browser companies that add the Java interpreter and class libraries to their browsers.

You do not need a source code license to write and distribute applets or applications in the Java language. The clickable binary license on our web page permits developers to write software in the Java language, as well as distribution of the binaries for the Java interpreter along with applications, at no cost.

How do I obtain your commercial source code licensing agreement?

If you believe you need a commercial source license, e-mail your name, postal address, voice and FAX numbers to infopack@java.sun.com, and we will send you a licensing packet via snail mail.

The packet contains product and licensing information that includes product literature and a Confidential Disclosure Agreement. You will need to complete the CDA in the event you wish to pursue licensing and would like us to send you a copy of our standard commercial license agreement.

Java Compatibility

How do we guarantee, that a OEM does not change the API? Will there be a Java Compliance Test, or is this regulated by the license agreement?

We are very committed to Java compatibility from all our source code OEMs. Therefore, we have strict contractual obligations around what can and cannot be changed in the source code AND we will have a Java Compatibility test suite available some time next month that both commercial and internal source code licensees must pass. We have created a special logo just for this purpose: "Java Compatible".

The main reason we're strict about licensing and trademarking is that compatibility between all Java implementations is *extremely* important to us -- it's difficult to establish a standard application platform if each version is different in some way.

Licensable Logos

Please note that there are two logos, "Duke" and the "steaming coffee cup," that that are reserved for Sun's use ONLY!

Duke (the Java "mascot") and the Java Steaming Coffee Cup (the official Java logo) are trademarks of Sun Microsystems Inc, and cannot, under any circumstances, be reproduced on product packaging, marketing materials, web pages, etc.

We have created two different logos for companies developing products with or based on the Java technology: the "Java Powered" logo and the "Java Compatible" logo.

The "Java Powered" Logo

"Java Powered" has been designed for and is available to developers creating applets using the Java binary release from our web page. Anyone writing applets using the Java language will be able to stamp their applets "Java Powered" after reading and agreeing to the license on the web. The license for this logo will be available from our web page some time in January. No license fees are required. To agree to the terms, just click on the designated place and you are free to put the Java Powered Logo on your applets.

The "Java Compatible" Logo

The "Java Compatible Logo" is designed for commercial licensees who license the Java runtime source code to integrate Java into their commercial products and have executed a commercial license agreement.

If you have done a cleanroom implementation of the Java Virtual Machine/Interpreter and class libraries, you may also use this logo, provided you have passed the appropriate publicly available test suite (coming next month).

Products bearing this logo have successfully passed the Java Compatible Test Suites and maintain Applet API compatibility on all platforms.

more information on how to become a Java source licensee