Re: Can Debian packaging changes require a CLA?
On Fri, Feb 14, 2020 at 03:46:18PM +0000, Dimitri John Ledkov wrote:
> Can a Debian Package Maintainer require CLA for accepting packaging
> changes and distro patches to be uploaded into Debian itself?
>
> (case in point, debian maintainer & upstream wear the same hat, and
> maintain upstream code & packaging on github.com, under a company org
> with a CLA bot, rejecting debian/* merge proposals until CLA is
> signed)
>
> I didn't find things specifically about this in the policy and/or in
> the dfsg-faq and the three classic tests (desert island / dissident /
> tentacles of evil) do not fit the bill quite right.
>
Have you considered it this way? As Debian maintainer of some package
you are able to decide whether or not you accept contributions to that
package based on your own criteria (or your employer's in this case)?
If the criteria are too onerous such that they discourage contributions
then there is a possibility that eventually someone may come along and
repackage it under a different name; essentially your criteria could
precipitate a fork.
In principle, there seems to be nothing that would prevent such a
requirement (i.e., a CLA), but in practice it is likely to irk potential
contributors.
Regards,
-Roberto
--
Roberto C. Sánchez
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