Re: migrating away from the FDL

[Mathieu Roy <yeupou@gnu.org>]

> > > My question is: what's the right way to do this? If all contributors
> > > agree, can I just drop the FDL from my 'legalese' paragraphs, replacing
> > > it with a reference to the GPL, or do I have to mention the fact that
> > > previous versions were licensed under the FDL? Do I have to wait for a
> > > new update of those documents, or can I just go ahead and change the
> > > license without changing the licensed text?
> > 
> > Normally you can drop the ref. to the FDL completely. But note that if
> > someone got a copy under the GNU FDL, he is free to continue to
> > distribute it as GNU FDL, even if he knows that you relicensed it to
> > the GPL.
> > As author, you can relicense your production as you want, without
> > changing the licensed text (at your option).
> 
> What about contributors who sent patches of maybe 5 lines?
> They'd have to be contacted as well, since they contributed to the
> FDL version and hence implicitly released their patch under the FDL,
> no?

Indeed, they are also authors, they are also copyright holders.

The only solution for you is to find an agreement with them or to
remove their contribution from your code/documentation.

Regards,


-- 
Mathieu Roy
 
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