Re: [PATCH] README: Git is released under the GPLv2, not just "the GPL"

From: Junio C Hamano <gitster@pobox.com>
Date: Dec 15, 2012, 18:35 UTC
Message-ID: <7v38z7tb7q.fsf@alter.siamese.dyndns.org>
In-Reply-To: <7vhanntchw.fsf@alter.siamese.dyndns.org>

Junio C Hamano <gitster@pobox.com> writes:

Show 32 quoted lines

> Stefano Lattarini <stefano.lattarini@gmail.com> writes:
>
>> And this is clearly stressed by Linus in the COPYING file.  So make it
>> clear in the README as well, to avoid possible misunderstandings.
>>
>> Signed-off-by: Stefano Lattarini <stefano.lattarini@gmail.com>
>> ---
>
> I have nothing against this patch, but I am curious if you saw any
> misunderstandings in the real world, or if you are merely trying to
> avoid "possible" ones.
>
>>  README | 7 ++++---
>>  1 file changed, 4 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-)
>>
>> diff --git a/README b/README
>> index d2690ec..c50e6f4 100644
>> --- a/README
>> +++ b/README
>> @@ -19,9 +19,10 @@ Git is a fast, scalable, distributed revision control system with an
>>  unusually rich command set that provides both high-level operations
>>  and full access to internals.
>>  
>> -Git is an Open Source project covered by the GNU General Public License.
>> -It was originally written by Linus Torvalds with help of a group of
>> -hackers around the net. It is currently maintained by Junio C Hamano.
>> +Git is an Open Source project covered by the GNU General Public License
>> +(version 2).  It was originally written by Linus Torvalds with help
>> +of a group of hackers around the net. It is currently maintained by
>> +Junio C Hamano.
>>  
>>  Please read the file INSTALL for installation instructions.

The project as a whole is GPLv2, and inclusion of pieces licensed under different but compatible terms does not change it, but we may want to do this instead.

I am just one of the "group of hackers around the net" in the context of this overview, so I think it is OK to drop that "currently maintained by" bit. The audience of this document does not have to find out and interact with the maintainer.

diff --git a/README b/README
index d2690ec..c365e3c 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -19,9 +19,10 @@ Git is a fast, scalable, distributed revision control system with an
 unusually rich command set that provides both high-level operations
 and full access to internals.
 
-Git is an Open Source project covered by the GNU General Public License.
+Git is an Open Source project covered by the GNU General Public
+License version 2 (some parts of it are under different licenses).
 It was originally written by Linus Torvalds with help of a group of
-hackers around the net. It is currently maintained by Junio C Hamano.
+hackers around the net.
 
 Please read the file INSTALL for installation instructions.

-- 
1.8.1.rc1.148.gfac1be9