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Re: Signed-off-by & the law

From
D. Ben Knoble <ben.knoble@gmail.com>
Date
Oct 16, 2025, 21:06 UTC
Message-ID
<CALnO6CDN6EZq6VPhUOPbO5uV09qzjsrJeU+uyvcy8BNFMqAynA@mail.gmail.com>
In-Reply-To
<xmqqy0pa1rth.fsf@gitster.g>
On Thu, Oct 16, 2025 at 5:04 PM Junio C Hamano <gitster@pobox.com> wrote:
Show 19 quoted lines
>
> "D. Ben Knoble" <ben.knoble@gmail.com> writes:
>
> > Any contributors/users with an interest in law feel like taking a stab
> > at answering "Is Git's signed-off-by legally useful" ?
> > https://law.stackexchange.com/q/111158/26698
> >
> > Having a solid reference answer is usually a good thing, if one exists.
>
> The meaning of Sign-off is left to the project that adopts the
> trailer as its own convention.  Our SubmittingPatches document
> governs our project and nothing else, and defines how we use the
> trailer (namely, you sign if you certify your patch is being
> submitted under DCO).
>
> So the confusion by original questioner is understandable.  You
> would be confused if you only see a Sign-off without project
> context and you are forced to answer what it means, because see
> above.

Thanks—I think I tried to convey this in a comment and did a poor job. Let me cite this as part of an answer, perhaps.

-- 
D. Ben Knoble
Previous: Junio C Hamano
Message 7 of 7 in “Signed-off-by & the law”
  1. D. Ben KnobleOct 16, 2025
  2. Collin FunkOct 16, 2025
  3. D. Ben KnobleOct 16, 2025
  4. Collin FunkOct 16, 2025
  5. Theodore Ts'oOct 17, 2025
  6. Junio C HamanoOct 16, 2025
  7. D. Ben KnobleOct 16, 2025

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