Re: [PATCH] README: Git is released under the GPLv2, not just "the GPL"
On 12/15/2012 07:35 PM, Junio C Hamano wrote:
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> Junio C Hamano <gitster@pobox.com> writes:
>
>> 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.
>>
Only playing safe against "possible" misunderstandings, especially now that the GPLv3 has taken root and has supplanted the v2 in several projects (e.g., Perl, and obviously most GNU packages).
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>>> 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).
>
Maybe you could be even more explicit ans state "some parts of it are under different licenses, compatible with the GPLv2". But maybe this is just overkill?
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> 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.
>
Stefano Lattarini