Re: Seeking input from developers: glibc copyright assignment policy.

[Rich Felker <dalias@libc.org>]

On Mon, Jun 14, 2021 at 02:52:03PM -0400, Carlos O'Donell via Libc-alpha wrote:
> Community,
> 
> glibc was created as part of the GNU Project but has grown to operate as
> an autonomous project. As part of the GNU Toolchain the glibc stewards
> support the gcc project policy changes presented here:
> https://gcc.gnu.org/pipermail/gcc/2021-June/236182.html
> 
> The glibc stewards are seeking input from developers to decide if the project
> should relax the requirement to assign copyright for all changes to the
> Free Software Foundation as follows:
> 
> Contributors who have an FSF Copyright Assignment wouldn't need to
> change anything.  Contributors who wish to utilize the Developer Certificate
> of Origin[1] would add a Signed-off-by message to their commit messages.
> 
> The changes to accept patches with or without FSF copyright assignment
> would be effective on August 2nd, and would apply to all open branches.
> 
> The glibc stewards, like the GCC SC, continue to affirm the principles of
> Free Software, and that will never change.
> 
> glibc will continue to be developed, distributed, and licensed under the
> GNU Lesser General Public License v2.1 or any later version as
> published by the Free Software Foundation.
> 
> Input on this issue is accepted until July 1st 2021.

I am very much in favor of removing the assignment requirement. I do
not, and have never, had an assignment in place (it's a running joke
that my patch contributions have been all-minus-signs) but given
recent behavior by the FSF board, I am completely unwilling to assign
copyright to them in the future, so not making this change may affect
my ability to contribute.

Rich