Bug#701660: lintian: Possible wrong syntax-error-in-dep5-copyright test in Lintian (Duplicate field copyright)

[Niels Thykier <niels@thykier.net>]

On 2013-02-25 21:37, Nelson A. de Oliveira wrote:
> Package: lintian
> Version: 2.5.11
> Severity: minor
> 
> Correct me if I am wrong or if I lack some coffee, please, but with this
> copyright file:
> 
> =====
> Format: http://www.debian.org/doc/packaging-manuals/copyright-format/1.0/
> Upstream-Name: name
> Upstream-Contact: Somebody
> 
> Files: file1.c file2.c
> Copyright: 2000, 2001 Foo
> Copyright: 2001, 2002 Bar
> License: BSD-Like
> =====
> 
> I am seeing this:
> 
> W: test source: syntax-error-in-dep5-copyright line 7: Duplicate field copyright.
> 

The specification says the syntax of these files are that of Policy §5.1
and said specification do not allow duplicate fields in a given paragraph.

> In
> http://www.debian.org/doc/packaging-manuals/copyright-format/1.0/#copyright-field
> we can see an example with two "Copyright" lines.
> 

The example may be confusing, but what you see is not a two fields, but
"the contents of the field"[1].

> It seems that lintian should not warn for duplicates copyright fields?
> 

My reading is that duplicate fields are a violation of the syntax.

> Thank you!
> 
> Best regards,
> Nelson
> 
> [...]

~Niels

[1] Note the (by me emphased) singular "field".

"""
_The Copyright field_ for that paragraph would contain:
"""