Bug 511884 – dev-java/oracle-{jre,jdk}-bin: fetch restrictions should be removed

• Product: Gentoo Linux
• Status: RESOLVED CANTFIX

[Description Jonathan Vasquez (RETIRED) 2014-05-30 19:46:43 UTC]

The oracle license allows for people to redistribute their binaries as long as they don't modify them. This allows us to remove fetch restriction of oracle related java packages and provides an easier experience for users to get oracle's java up and running.

The Funtoo community had a bug opened related to this and their forked ebuild doesn't have this fetch restriction. The discussion/ and specific license was discussed here:

http://bugs.funtoo.org/browse/FL-1150

To quote drobbins:

"The part of the Oracle-BCLA-JavaSE license that allows unmodified redistribution is Supplemental Section C:

C. LICENSE TO DISTRIBUTE SOFTWARE. Subject to the terms and conditions
of this Agreement and restrictions and exceptions set forth in the
README File, including, but not limited to the Java Technology
Restrictions of these Supplemental Terms, Oracle grants you a
non-exclusive, non-transferable, limited license without fees to reproduce
and distribute the Software, provided that you distribute the
Software complete and unmodified and only bundled as part of, and for the
sole purpose of running, your Programs, (ii) the Programs add significant
and primary functionality to the Software, (iii) you do not distribute
additional software intended to replace any component(s) of the Software,
(iv) you do not remove or alter any proprietary legends or notices
contained in the Software, (v) you only distribute the Software subject to
a license agreement that: (a) is a complete, unmodified reproduction of
this Agreement; or (b) protects Oracle's interests consistent with the
terms contained in this Agreement and that includes the notice set forth
in Section G, and (vi) you agree to defend and indemnify Oracle and its
licensors from and against any damages, costs, liabilities, settlement
amounts and/or expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred in
connection with any claim, lawsuit or action by any third party that
arises or results from the use or distribution of any and all Programs
and/or Software."

[Comment 1 Ulrich Müller 2014-05-30 21:29:50 UTC]

The catch is in Section C.(i):
"[...] provided that (i) you distribute the Software complete and unmodified and only bundled as part of, and for the sole purpose of running, your Programs"

That's intended for distribution of the JRE bundled with a Java application and IMHO doesn't apply to the case of distribution of only the JRE via mirrors.

IANAL, TINLA.

[Comment 2 Ralph Sennhauser (RETIRED) 2014-07-20 21:44:46 UTC]

The DLJ ( which allowed distributions to redistribute unmodified JDKs / JREs) was explicitely retired by Oracle. My interpretation is we aren't allowed to do this anymore. With icedtea there is an alternative available though.

[Comment 3 Patrice Clement (RETIRED) 2015-03-24 09:03:08 UTC]

@licences: could someone from your team shed some light on this? Not sure what to do here.

[Comment 4 Ulrich Müller 2015-03-24 13:04:07 UTC]

(In reply to Patrice Clement from comment #3)
> @licences: could someone from your team shed some light on this? Not sure
> what to do here.

As a member of the licenses team, I've already answered in comment #1.

The download page still says "You must accept the Oracle Binary Code License Agreement for Java SE to download this software." and I think this is sufficient reason for keeping the license in the @EULA group, as well as the current fetch restriction.

[Comment 5 Patrice Clement (RETIRED) 2015-04-21 08:37:17 UTC]

See Ulrich's last comment.