---
key: openjdk-classpath-exception-2.0
short_name: OpenJDK Classpath exception to GPL 2.0
name: OpenJDK Classpath exception to GPL 2.0
category: Copyleft Limited
owner: Oracle (Sun)
is_exception: yes
spdx_license_key: LicenseRef-scancode-openjdk-classpath-exception2.0
other_spdx_license_keys:
    - LicenseRef-scancode-openjdk-classpath-exception-2.0
faq_url: http://openjdk.java.net/legal/exception-modules-2007-05-08.html
other_urls:
    - http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.txt
standard_notice: |
    This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
    under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free
    Software Foundation; either version 2, or (at your option) any later
    version.
    This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT
    ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or
    FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for
    more details.
    You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along
    with this library; see the file COPYING. If not, write to the Free Software
    Foundation, 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA.
    "CLASSPATH" EXCEPTION TO THE GPL VERSION 2
    Certain source files distributed by Sun Microsystems, Inc. are subject to
    the following clarification and special exception to the GPL Version 2, but
    only where Sun has expressly included in the particular source file's
    header the words
    "Sun designates this particular file as subject to the "Classpath"
    exception as provided by Sun in the License file that accompanied this
    code."
    Linking this library statically or dynamically with other modules is making
    a combined work based on this library. Thus, the terms and conditions of
    the GNU General Public License Version 2 cover the whole combination.
    As a special exception, the copyright holders of this library give you
    permission to link this library with independent modules to produce an
    executable, regardless of the license terms of these independent modules,
    and to copy and distribute the resulting executable under terms of your
    choice, provided that you also meet, for each linked independent module,
    the terms and conditions of the license of that module. An independent
    module is a module which is not derived from or based on this library. If
    you modify this library, you may extend this exception to your version of
    the library, but you are not obligated to do so. If you do not wish to do
    so, delete this exception statement from your version.
    OPENJDK ASSEMBLY EXCEPTION
    The OpenJDK source code made available openjdk.dev.java.net ("OpenJDK
    Code") is distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public License
    <http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html> version 2 only ("GPL2"), with the
    following clarification and special exception.
    Linking this OpenJDK Code statically or dynamically with other code is
    making a combined work based on this library. Thus, the terms and
    conditions of GPL2 cover the whole combination.
    As a special exception, Sun gives you permission to link this OpenJDK Code
    with certain code licensed by Sun as indicated at
    http://openjdk.java.net/legal/exception-modules-2007-05-08.html
    ("Designated Exception Modules") to produce an executable, regardless of
    the license terms of the Designated Exception Modules, and to copy and
    distribute the resulting executable under GPL2, provided that the
    Designated Exception Modules continue to be governed by the licenses under
    which they were offered by Sun.
    As such, it allows licensees and sublicensees of Sun's GPL2 OpenJDK Code to
    build an executable that includes those portions of necessary code that Sun
    could not provide under GPL2 (or that Sun has provided under GPL2 with the
    Classpath exception). If you modify or add to the OpenJDK code, that new
    GPL2 code may still be combined with Designated Exception Modules if the
    new code is made subject to this exception by its copyright holder.
    from http://openjdk.java.net/legal/exception-modules-2007-05-08.html
    OpenJDK Designated Exception Modules
    8 May 2007
    For purposes of those files in the OpenJDK distribution that are subject to
    the Assembly Exception, the following shall be deemed Designated Exception
    Modules:
    1. Those files in the OpenJDK distribution available at openjdk.java.net,
    openjdk.dev.java.net, and download.java.net to which Sun has applied the
    Classpath Exception,
    2. Any of your derivative works of #1 above, to the extent you license them
    under the GPLv2 with the Classpath Exception as defined in the OpenJDK
    distribution available at openjdk.java.net, openjdk.dev.java.net, or
    download.java.net,
    3. Any files in the OpenJDK distribution that are made available at
    openjdk.java.net, openjdk.dev.java.net, or download.java.net under a binary
    code license, and
    4. Any files in the OpenJDK distribution that are made available at
    openjdk.java.net, openjdk.dev.java.net, or download.java.net under an open
    source license other than GPL, and your derivatives thereof that are in
    compliance with the applicable open source license.
ignorable_urls:
    - http://openjdk.java.net/legal/exception-modules-2007-05-08.html
    - http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html
---

OPENJDK ASSEMBLY EXCEPTION

The OpenJDK source code made available openjdk.dev.java.net ("OpenJDK Code") is distributed under
the terms of the GNU General Public License <http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html> version 2
only ("GPL2"), with the following clarification and special exception.

    Linking this OpenJDK Code statically or dynamically with other code
    is making a combined work based on this library.  Thus, the terms
    and conditions of GPL2 cover the whole combination.

    As a special exception, Sun gives you permission to link this
    OpenJDK Code with certain code licensed by Sun as indicated at
    http://openjdk.java.net/legal/exception-modules-2007-05-08.html
    ("Designated Exception Modules") to produce an executable,
    regardless of the license terms of the Designated Exception Modules,
    and to copy and distribute the resulting executable under GPL2,
    provided that the Designated Exception Modules continue to be
    governed by the licenses under which they were offered by Sun.

As such, it allows licensees and sublicensees of Sun's GPL2 OpenJDK Code
to build an executable that includes those portions of necessary code that
Sun could not provide under GPL2 (or that Sun has provided under GPL2
with the Classpath exception).  If you modify or add to the OpenJDK code,
that new GPL2 code may still be combined with Designated Exception Modules
if the new code is made subject to this exception by its copyright holder.