diff --git a/src/main/java/com/threerings/presents/data/ClientObject.java b/src/main/java/com/threerings/presents/data/ClientObject.java
index 655c780b5..c71285a0b 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/threerings/presents/data/ClientObject.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/threerings/presents/data/ClientObject.java
@@ -229,4 +229,8 @@ public class ClientObject extends DObject
 
     /** Used to reference count resolved client objects. */
     protected transient int _references;
+
+    /** TEMP: a non-transient backwards compatible permission policy for extant C++ clients. */
+    protected com.threerings.presents.data.PermissionPolicy _ignore =
+        new com.threerings.presents.data.PermissionPolicy();
 }
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/threerings/presents/data/PermissionPolicy.java b/src/main/java/com/threerings/presents/data/PermissionPolicy.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..83685522c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/java/com/threerings/presents/data/PermissionPolicy.java
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+//
+// $Id$
+//
+// Narya library - tools for developing networked games
+// Copyright (C) 2002-2010 Three Rings Design, Inc., All Rights Reserved
+// http://code.google.com/p/narya/
+//
+// This library 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 2.1 of the License, or
+// (at your option) any later version.
+//
+// This library 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 this library; if not, write to the Free Software
+// Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA
+
+package com.threerings.presents.data;
+
+import com.threerings.io.Streamable;
+
+/**
+ * TEMP: dummy PermissionPolicy file for backwards compatibility with C++. Going away soon.
+ */
+public class PermissionPolicy implements Streamable
+{
+}