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

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

[Stefano Lattarini]

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>
---
 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.
 
-- 
1.8.0.1.347.gf94c325

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

[Junio C Hamano]

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.

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

[Junio C Hamano]

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.
>
>>  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

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

[Stefano Lattarini]

On 12/15/2012 07:35 PM, Junio C Hamano wrote:
> 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).

>>>  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?

>  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.
>  

Thanks,
  Stefano

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

[Junio C Hamano]

Stefano Lattarini <stefano.lattarini@gmail.com> writes:

> On 12/15/2012 07:35 PM, Junio C Hamano wrote:
>> ...
>> -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?

I personally do not think it is an overkill; because this "clarify
that we are version 2", followed by "not everything is, but as a
whole it is still GPLv2" is in the end about covering our ass, it is
better to be as clear as possible without making it into a novel.

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

[Stefano Lattarini]

On 12/15/2012 08:39 PM, Junio C Hamano wrote:
> Stefano Lattarini <stefano.lattarini@gmail.com> writes:
> 
>> On 12/15/2012 07:35 PM, Junio C Hamano wrote:
>>> ...
>>> -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?
> 
> I personally do not think it is an overkill; because this "clarify
> that we are version 2", followed by "not everything is, but as a
> whole it is still GPLv2" is in the end about covering our ass, it is
> better to be as clear as possible without making it into a novel.
> 
Well, if you put it this way :-)  I agree that it's better be safe
than be sorry.

Thanks,
  Stefano