diff --git a/source/java/org/alfresco/api/AlfrescoPublicApi.java b/source/java/org/alfresco/api/AlfrescoPublicApi.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..52953a3b3d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/source/java/org/alfresco/api/AlfrescoPublicApi.java
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2005-2013 Alfresco Software Limited.
+ *
+ * This file is part of Alfresco
+ *
+ * Alfresco is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
+ * the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * Alfresco is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
+ * along with Alfresco. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+package org.alfresco.api;
+
+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;
+
+/*
+This annotation is used to denote a class or method as part
+of the public API. When a class or method is so designated then
+we will not change it within a release in a way that would make
+it no longer backwardly compatible with an earlier version within
+the release.
+ */
+@Target( {ElementType.TYPE,ElementType.METHOD}
+		)
+@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
+@Documented
+public @interface AlfrescoPublicApi
+{
+}