diff -r 000000000000 -r fb9019fb1bf7 src/net/fortuna/ical4j/util/TimeZones.java
--- /dev/null	Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 1970 +0000
+++ b/src/net/fortuna/ical4j/util/TimeZones.java	Tue Feb 10 18:12:00 2015 +0100
@@ -0,0 +1,109 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2012, Ben Fortuna
+ * All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+ * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
+ * are met:
+ *
+ *  o Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+ * notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+ *
+ *  o Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+ * notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
+ * documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+ *
+ *  o Neither the name of Ben Fortuna nor the names of any other contributors
+ * may be used to endorse or promote products derived from this software
+ * without specific prior written permission.
+ *
+ * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
+ * "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+ * LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR
+ * A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OR
+ * CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL,
+ * EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
+ * PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR
+ * PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF
+ * LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING
+ * NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS
+ * SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+ */
+package net.fortuna.ical4j.util;
+
+import java.util.TimeZone;
+
+/**
+ * $Id$ [5/07/2004]
+ *
+ * Utility methods relevant to Java timezones.
+ *
+ * @author Ben Fortuna
+ */
+public final class TimeZones {
+    
+    /**
+     * The timezone identifier for UTC time.
+     */
+    public static final String UTC_ID = "Etc/UTC";
+    
+    /**
+     * The timezone identifier for UTC time in the IBM JVM.
+     */
+    public static final String IBM_UTC_ID = "GMT";
+    
+    /**
+     * The timezone identifier for GMT time.
+     */
+    public static final String GMT_ID = "Etc/GMT";
+
+    private static final TimeZone UTC_TIMEZONE;
+    static {
+        UTC_TIMEZONE = TimeZone.getTimeZone(UTC_ID);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Constructor made private to enforce static nature.
+     */
+    private TimeZones() {
+    }
+    
+    /**
+     * Indicates whether the specified timezone is equivalent to
+     * UTC time.
+     * @param timezone a timezone instance
+     * @return true if the timezone is UTC time, otherwise false
+     */
+    public static boolean isUtc(final TimeZone timezone) {
+//        return timezone.hasSameRules(TimeZone.getTimeZone(UTC_ID));
+//        return timezone.getRawOffset() == 0;
+        return UTC_ID.equals(timezone.getID())
+            || IBM_UTC_ID.equals(timezone.getID());
+    }
+    
+    /**
+     * Although timezones are not really applicable to DATE instances in iCalendar, the implementation
+     * in iCal4j requires the use of a timezone. Dates in iCal4j may be either "floating", in that they
+     * use the default Java timezone, or alternatively will use UTC (this is the default).
+     * 
+     * The use of floating dates may be configured by specifying the following as a system property or in
+     * a file called "ical4j.properties" in the classpath:
+     * 
+     * <pre>net.fortuna.ical4j.timezone.date.floating=true</pre>
+     * 
+     * @return the timezone used for date instances
+     */
+    public static TimeZone getDateTimeZone() {
+    	if ("true".equals(Configurator.getProperty("net.fortuna.ical4j.timezone.date.floating"))) {
+    		return TimeZone.getDefault();
+    	}
+    	return getUtcTimeZone();
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Get the UTC Timezone.
+     */
+    public static TimeZone getUtcTimeZone() {
+        return UTC_TIMEZONE;
+    }
+}