# Re: DE-COMPILING JAVA: how can it be prevented

Tim Lindholm (Timothy.Lindholm@Eng)
Wed, 25 Jun 1997 10:55:02 -0700

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    Date: Wed, 25 Jun 1997 10:55:02 -0700

    From: Timothy.Lindholm@Eng (Tim Lindholm)

    Message-Id: <199706251755.KAA21730@gladys.eng.sun.com>

    To: java-security@web2.javasoft.com, jdc-comments@web2.javasoft.com,

    Subject: Re: DE-COMPILING JAVA: how can it be prevented

The main thing you need to understand is the difference between
compilation and encryption. If you use compilation of any language to
protect your intellectual property, and someone wants to steal it, you
*will* have it stolen. Good decompilation tools exist for most
languages. Java is somewhat easier in its current incarnation to
decompile than other languages, but that only protects you from the kid
down the street, not from your determined market competitor. I'd argue
that you shouldn't be very worried about the kid.

That said, there are various "obfuscation" tools that have been done to
make decompiled Java code less immediately useful, but again, that
won't stop a determined adversary.

If you really want to keep the IP embodied in your compiled application
safe, whether it's Java on the net or C baked into a ROM, your best tools
are either encryption or a Wall-O-Lawyers(tm).

-- Tim

----- Begin Included Message -----

>From DFowler@corp.adaptec.com Mon Jun 23 13:45:41 1997
From: DFowler@corp.adaptec.com
X-Nvlenv-01Date-Transferred: 23-Jun-1997 13:48:35 -0700; at
Mentor.Adaptec
X-Nvlenv-01Date-Posted: 23-Jun-1997 13:50:35 -0800; at Calliope.Adaptec
Date: 23 Jun 97 13:44:00 PDT
To: java-security@web2.javasoft.com, jdc-comments@web2.javasoft.com,
jdk-comments@web2.javasoft.com, jvm@web2.javasoft.com
Subject: DE-COMPILING JAVA: how can it be prevented
Reply-To: DFowler@corp.adaptec.com
References: <E9E6AE3302BA2C79@-SMF->

Form: Memo
Text: (15 lines follow)
I don't want to spend months on a java application, only to have
a competitor run a java decompiler on the byte code. How do I
prevent this?

This is my primary concern with Java. I'm reluctant to start
coding a serious Java application until I feel confident that I can
product my code.

Any info on this issue would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Reply to:
dfowler@corp.adaptec.com
David Fowler
Adaptec
408-945-8600 x2864
Use Proportional Font: true

----- End Included Message -----

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