Handing references to GPL within ports

[Chuck Swiger]

On Sep 13, 2007, at 12:21 AM, Peter Jeremy wrote:
> I'm working on a port for H-Inventory (a computer inventory/resource
> management tool).  By default, it installs a copy of the GPL.
> According to the Porter's Handbook, a port should avoid installing
> copies of the GPL.  Whilst it's fairly easy to adapt the port so it
> doesn't install the license file, the installed web pages include at
> least one hyperlink to the file (I haven't done a complete check).
>
> What is the preferred mechanism for handling this?
> - Ignore the Porter's Handbook and install the file anyway
> - Create a symlink to an existing copy of the GPL.
>   (In which case, where do I find a GPL that will always exist)
> - Change the hyperlink to point to a copy of the GPL on the Internet
> - something else.

It wouldn't hurt to install the file anyway, but if you'd like to try  
to following the Porter's Handbook recommendations more closely,  
making a symlink to /usr/src/gnu/COPYING is going to provide you with  
the GPLv2 license text, presuming /usr/src is available on the  
machine in question.

I don't think the third option is a good idea-- if the license for  
the software requires one to make the license text available, then it  
should be available from the same machine which the software is on.

Regards,
-- 
-Chuck