FULL PRODUCT VERSION :
cygwin$ java -version
java version "1.6.0_20"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.6.0_20-b02)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 16.3-b01, mixed mode, sharing)

ADDITIONAL OS VERSION INFORMATION :
Windows Vista 32bit, Mac OS X 10.6 64bit, Linux (unknown)

EXTRA RELEVANT SYSTEM CONFIGURATION :
Standard JDK

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
It appears that annotations cannot contain member fields of type Class<?>. I have been able to successfully compile all applicable test code when commenting out these member fields. And when I uncomment them, the build fails.

STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM :
Create an annotation that contains a member field of type Class<?> or Class<? extends SomeClass> and apply it to a field. Compile your code.

EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR :
EXPECTED -
Code compiles.
ACTUAL -
Code fails with error like this:


/build/data/bamboo/xml-data/build-dir/BUSINESSSERVICESLOCATIONGEOSPATIAL-GEOSPATIALMANAGEMENTTRUNK/geospatial-management-web/src/main/java/com/lmig/reuse/geospatial/management/model/Category.java:[33,0] annotation com.lmig.reuse.geospatial.management.promotion.Promotable is missing <clinit>

/build/data/bamboo/xml-data/build-dir/BUSINESSSERVICESLOCATIONGEOSPATIAL-GEOSPATIALMANAGEMENTTRUNK/geospatial-management-web/src/main/java/com/lmig/reuse/geospatial/management/model/Feature.java:[42,0] annotation com.lmig.reuse.geospatial.management.promotion.Promotable is missing <clinit>

ERROR MESSAGES/STACK TRACES THAT OCCUR :
/build/data/bamboo/xml-data/build-dir/BUSINESSSERVICESLOCATIONGEOSPATIAL-GEOSPATIALMANAGEMENTTRUNK/geospatial-management-web/src/main/java/com/lmig/reuse/geospatial/management/model/Feature.java:[42,0] annotation com.lmig.reuse.geospatial.management.promotion.Promotable is missing <clinit>

REPRODUCIBILITY :
This bug can be reproduced always.

---------- BEGIN SOURCE ----------
package name.redacted;

import java.lang.annotation.Documented;
import java.lang.annotation.ElementType;
import java.lang.annotation.Retention;
import java.lang.annotation.RetentionPolicy;
import java.lang.annotation.Target;

/**
 * [[redacted]]
 *
 * @author Ted Pennings
 */
@Documented
@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
@Target(ElementType.TYPE)
public @interface Redacted{

    /**
     * [[redacted]]
     */
    public static final Class<? extends RedactedSuperClass> DEFAULT_IMPLEMENTATION = RedactedDefaultImplementation.class;

    /**
     * [[redacted]]
     */
    Class<? extends RedactedSuperClass> redactedMethod() default RedactedDefaultImplementation.class;

}

--- SEPARATE CLASS AND SEPARATE FILE --


@Redacted
public class SomeEntity {

 //do some stuff
}
---------- END SOURCE ----------

CUSTOMER SUBMITTED WORKAROUND :
Remove the field Class<?>

SUPPORT :
YES