Re: [boost] Copyright and authorship notices

Subject: Re: [boost] Copyright and authorship notices
From: Paul A. Bristow (pbristow_at_[hidden])
Date: 2012-01-05 05:23:51

> -----Original Message-----
> From: boost-bounces_at_[hidden] [mailto:boost-bounces_at_[hidden]] On Behalf Of Dave
> Abrahams
> Sent: Thursday, January 05, 2012 1:40 AM
> To: boost_at_[hidden]
> Subject: Re: [boost] Copyright and authorship notices
> 
> 
> on Wed Jan 04 2012, Jens Müller <blog-AT-tessarakt.de> wrote:
> 
> > Hi all,
> >
> > what is the policy of adding a Copyright notice and entries to the
> > author list when patching existing files?
> >
> > I found http://www.boost.org/development/requirements.html#Ownership,
> > but it is not completely helpful.
> 
> I don't think we have an official policy.  My personal policy has always been that I don't add myself as an
> author for bug fixes, but for any "creative" work, I usually do.

I think that this is a good policy (though I would widen the scope to all non-trivial bug fixes).

It provides some element of history of modification (for a time when the SVN history might be lost) and some clues on who to ask when, years later, the reason for decision or changes is puzzling.

And in the event of someone questioning patent 'prior art', it provides an additional person who can vouch for the authenticity and history of the software.  This looks horribly likely to continue to be potentially important as the bogus software patent wars escalate.

Paul

---
Paul A. Bristow,
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[phone]  07714330204
pbristow_at_[hidden]