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javajvmvirtual

Is it legal to write a new JVM?


Suppose that someone writes a commercial Java Virtual Machine for windows according to current java bytecode standard. Is it legal? Will Oracle sue the author?


Solution

  • AFAIR it is perfectly legal to write you own JVM, but I don't think you are allowed to call it Java-compatible unless you pass the tests in the TCK - which has a more restrictive license.

    To get a feel for the legal issues involved see the history of the Apache Harmony project.