--- /dev/null
+This package contains the URI.pm module with friends. The module
+implements the URI class. Objects of this class represent Uniform
+Resource Identifier references as specified in RFC 2396 and updated by
+RFC 2732.
+
+URI objects can be used to access and manipulate the various
+components that make up these strings. There are also methods to
+combine URIs in various ways.
+
+Some tests require an Internet connection to work and are skipped if
+one is not active.
+
+You need perl5.004 or better to install this package. You should also
+have the MIME::Base64 module installed. Installation is otherwise as
+usual:
+
+ perl Makefile.PL
+ make
+ make test
+ make install
+
+Questions about how to use this library should be directed to the
+comp.lang.perl.modules USENET Newsgroup. Bug reports and suggestions
+for improvements can be sent to the <libwww@perl.org> mailing list.
+
+Copyright 1998-2003 Gisle Aas.
+Copyright 1998 Graham Barr.
+
+This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+it under the same terms as Perl itself.