Legalities of modifying open source Java classes in a closed source App

If there is a better forum for this thread please let me know. I looked and looked and couldn't find any place where it seemed to fit.
Simply put, I want to know the legal ramifications of modifying open source Java classes which have been included in a commercial closed source application.
The specifics are my problem with the javax.servlet.http.Cookie classes interpretation with RFC 2019 in regards to acceptable cookie names. I currently am debating that in a thread here:
http://forums.sun.com/thread.jspa?threadID=5313146
I am using Adobe ColdFusion which is a J2EE application server running as a servlet in Macromedia JRun. JRun parses request headers and creates instances of the javax.servlet.http.Cookie class for each cookie. (An error is thrown from the constructor if the cookie name is not accepted)
I was able to work around the problem by modifying the code in the Cookie class, compiling it, and using jar.exe util in my SDK to update the new class into the jrun.jar file. I blogged it here:
http://www.codersrevolution.com/index.cfm/2008/7/15/No-Cookie-For-You-Second-Solution
My problem is I'm not sure if what I did conforms to the license for ColdFusion. Technically JRun is a closed source program I am not allowed to modify, but all I changed was a open source class from Sun. I didn't even need to decompile anything.
I have Googled in vain, but I can't seem to find any information that applies to modifying pieces of open sourced code contained inside of a closed source application.

bdw429s wrote:
"I thought it was straightforward and I didn't feel that lawyers were necessary. But you didn't seem to want to do that."
I'm unclear on whether you are implying that I didn't want to hire a lawyer or that I didn't want to read the licenses myself and make a decision. If you meant the former, you're darn right. I'm not paying anyone a dime to satisfy my personal acedemic curiosity concerning a random project I've been messing with in my spare time that isn't related to to any job or business decision. I'm simply looking for information because that's I do when I don't understand how something works. First, I Google the hell out of it and if I can't turn up satisfactory answers (or any at all) I find an applicable forum and ask there.
If you were implying the latter (that I didn't want to read the licenses myself) then you haven't been reading my posts. I stated to jschell that I have no problem attempting to figure out a license agreement on my own. In fact, I have read the ColdFusion agreement from Adobe before posting here. I talks about modifying the software, but I still don't think it is crystal clear about whether third part code falls under it's own license AND Adobie's or just its own license. Then that is the point at which you must do one of the following
1. Consult a lawyer.
2. Decide to allow for a liberal interpretation (thus you can use the code) and understand that you personally are liable if your interpretation is wrong.
3. Decide to allow for a conservative intepretation to avoid liable on your part.
Regardless of what anyone says here it won't remove your own liability.
>
The source for the java.servlet.http.Cookie class stated that it is release under the Apache license 2.0 whcih I read up on. I will admit I'm not actually sure how to tell the exact verison of the Java Servlet API classes that JRun is built on other than to cross reference which version of the servlet API came out with which version of Java, but that is a suspect method. I have been programming for more than 8 years, but I'm relatively new to the Java landscape.
I'm not looking for handouts here. I know this was a tough subject and I was prepared for NO ONE to respond and I would have been ok with that. I have no problems making decisions on my own and I have no intention of passing the buck to anybody.
Here's the thing though. A useful response is one that states some facts (or opinions), references a similar peice of software for comparison, a court case, or provides a few links to some open source-type websites were I might find more information about my issue.
Telling me to hire a lawyer and chastising me for "pass the buck" is doing about as much good as Linux snobs telling people to RTFM.
Wrong.
A lawyer is the best and most correct answer.
And it is the first answer that should always be given with these sorts of questions.
If you choose not to accept the best and most correct answer then that is up to you.
I understand that a large number of people on public forums are lazy sponges who wish someone would just post all the code they need, but assure you I am not that person. I'll admit I don't know much about open source and I'm not sure where to start looking since I seem to have a scenario which is not really discussed much on the web. All I am looking for is information and sincere help.And presumably you also understand that we certainly can't give you legal advice but also it would be foolhardy for you to accept it as well.
You learn by reading many license agreements and reading as much about legal situations involving computers and related technical cases as you can.
And until you are comfortable making such decisions yourself without asking then the only useful answer is ask a lawyer.

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Legalities of modifying open source Java classes in a closed source App

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