diff --git a/o.n.bootstrap/src/org/netbeans/ModuleData.java b/o.n.bootstrap/src/org/netbeans/ModuleData.java
--- a/o.n.bootstrap/src/org/netbeans/ModuleData.java
+++ b/o.n.bootstrap/src/org/netbeans/ModuleData.java
@@ -128,9 +128,9 @@
                 specVers = null;
             }
             String iv = attr.getValue("OpenIDE-Module-Implementation-Version"); // NOI18N
-            implVersion = iv == null ? "" : iv;
+            implVersion = iv == null ? "" : iv.intern();
             String bld = attr.getValue("OpenIDE-Module-Build-Version"); // NOI18N
-            buildVersion = bld == null ? implVersion : bld;
+            buildVersion = bld == null ? implVersion : bld.intern();
             
             this.provides = computeProvides(forModule, attr, verifyCNBs, false);
 
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@
                             Dependency.create(Dependency.TYPE_MODULE, piece);
                         }
                         // OK, add it.
-                        set.add(piece);
+                        set.add(piece.intern());
                     }
                     if (set.isEmpty()) {
                         throw new IllegalArgumentException("Empty OpenIDE-Module-Friends: " + friends); // NOI18N
@@ -251,8 +251,8 @@
             this.codeNameRelease = dis.readInt();
             this.coveredPackages = readStrings(dis, new HashSet<String>(), true);
             this.dependencies = (Dependency[]) dis.readObject();
-            this.implVersion = dis.readUTF();
-            this.buildVersion = dis.readUTF();
+            this.implVersion = dis.readUTF().intern();
+            this.buildVersion = dis.readUTF().intern();
             this.provides = readStrings(dis);
             this.friendNames = readStrings(dis, new HashSet<String>(), false);
             this.specVers = new SpecificationVersion(dis.readUTF());
@@ -477,7 +477,7 @@
             return null;
         }
         while (cnt-- > 0) {
-            set.add(dis.readUTF());
+            set.add(dis.readUTF().intern());
         }
         return set;
     }