Re: [net] nfc: Fix FSF address in file headers

[Arend van Spriel <arend@broadcom.com>]

On 12/08/2013 12:01 AM, Jeff Kirsher wrote:
> On Sat, 2013-12-07 at 14:55 -0800, Joe Perches wrote:
>> On Sat, 2013-12-07 at 14:49 -0800, Jeff Kirsher wrote:
>>> On Sat, 2013-12-07 at 23:20 +0100, Arend van Spriel wrote:
>>>> On 12/06/2013 05:56 PM, Jeff Kirsher wrote:
>>>>> Several files refer to an old address for the Free Software Foundation
>>>>> in the file header comment.  Resolve by replacing the address with
>>>>> the URL<http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>  so that we do not have to keep
>>>>> updating the header comments anytime the address changes.
>>>>
>>>> This seems to pop up from time to time and unfortunately the resolution
>>>> seems not consistent at those times. Why not simply refer to the full
>>>> license text that is in the COPYING file in the tree itself.
>>>
>>> I, personally have only had one request in the last 10 years to change
>>> our Intel Wired Ethernet headers and that was because the address
>>> changed.  I am open to suggestions, although when I proposed either
>>> updating the address to the current address or use the URL on LKML and
>>> netdev, the response I got was to update to the use the URL.
>>>
>>> I guess the only argument I would have against referring to the COPYING
>>> in the tree itself is that the headers already state:
>>>
>>> You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along
>>> with this program;
>>>
>>> (which refers to the COPYING file) and then it states...
>>>
>>> if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
>>> 51 Franklin St - Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
>>>
>>> This is the second part that needs cleanup if the file refers to the old
>>> address.  So just by removing the address and providing the URL, you are
>>> providing a place that users can get the license *if* the COPYING file
>>> gets removed (or altered) by who ever releases the kernel.
>>
>> Hi Jeff.
>>
>> I think what you've done is fine, but remember that
>> URLs come and go too.
>
> True, I just wish that were true for those embarrassing pictures of me
> 20 years ago... <joking>

Hmmm. Nothing on google. Probably the NSA already removed it for you 
(yikes, did that got me blacklisted).

Gr. AvS

>>
>> There was a discussion about this just a bit ago on lkml
>> https://lkml.org/lkml/2013/10/6/158
>> and this message was added to checkpatch recently:
>>
>> "Do not include the paragraph about writing to the Free Software
>> Foundation's mailing address from the sample GPL notice. The FSF has
>> changed addresses in the past, and may do so again. Linux already
>> includes a copy of the GPL.\n"
>
> Thanks for the info, I overlooked that thread.
>
>