Does the Classpath Exception apply to Web Image generated Wasm/JavaScript output?

[AndreasOlausson]

Hello, and thank you for Web Image.

I’m building a commercial, closed-source desktop application that includes a small Java module compiled to WebAssembly using Web Image from a Community Edition build of this repository, not Oracle GraalVM.

Before releasing the application, I’d like to clarify the license status of the generated output.

The repository README lists Web Image under “GPL 2”, without the Classpath Exception, while the Native Image runtime and compiler are listed as “GPL 2 with Classpath Exception”.

However, every source file under web-image/src that I have checked — 796 of 796 .java and .js files — carries Oracle’s explicit designation:

Oracle designates this particular file as subject to the “Classpath” exception as provided by Oracle in the LICENSE file that accompanied this code.

The web-image/LICENSE file itself contains the Classpath Exception text and states that the exception applies where the relevant file header designates the file accordingly.

The JavaScript runtime emitted alongside the generated .wasm also appears to be assembled from source files carrying the same designation.

I would therefore like to clarify two points:

1. When Web Image generates WebAssembly and JavaScript output that contains code originating from files carrying the Classpath Exception designation, is that generated output covered by the Classpath Exception in a way that permits it to be combined with and distributed as part of a proprietary commercial application?
2. Is the README entry listing Web Image simply as “GPL 2” intentionally different from the per-file license headers, or is it intended only as a high-level component classification?

For context, the remaining code incorporated into the generated output appears to come from:

• Native Image runtime (substratevm) — GPLv2 with Classpath Exception
• Graal compiler — GPLv2 with Classpath Exception
• GraalVM SDK Web Image API — UPL
• OpenJDK java.base — GPLv2 with Classpath Exception
• my own application code

I’m mainly trying to determine whether the generated .wasm and accompanying JavaScript may be distributed inside a closed-source commercial desktop application without imposing GPL licensing requirements on the application itself.

Thank you for any clarification.