Bug#38762: PROPOSAL] Policy should not be governed by GPL

[Santiago Vila <sanvila@unex.es>]

On Wed, 2 Jun 1999, Julian Gilbey wrote:

> Package: debian-policy
> Version: 2.5.0.0
> Severity: wishlist
> 
> I know this one's going to open a flamewar, but I think it's important
> to talk about anyway.
> 
> At present, Debian Policy is covered by the GPL.  I do not understand
> why this is so, and recommend that we change it to something similar
> to what the GPL does:
> 
>  Copyright (C) 1989, 1991 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
>                        59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA
>                        02111-1307  USA
>  Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies
>  of this license document, but changing it is not allowed.
> 
> Since the policy document specifies policy, it should not be freely
> modifiable.  If we wish people to be able to create policy documents
> for other projects based on it, then we can say something like the
> following: "Modified versions of this document may be distributed, but
> they must be clearly indicated as not being the official Debian
> Policy."

I don't think this is needed at all. As it has been pointed out, the GPL
clearly says that modified versions have to be clearly marked as such, and
the proposed change would make it non-free.

So I formally object to this proposal.

Thanks.

-- 
 "1c1894691781177dcc0735ebaeb1ec8f" (a truly random sig)