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Date: Tue, 7 Nov 2000 10:26:17 -0600
From: JT Williams <jeffw AT darwin DOT sfbr DOT org>
To: djgpp AT delorie DOT com
Subject: copyright notice in source
Message-ID: <20001107102617.A18988@kendall.sfbr.org>
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Reply-To: djgpp AT delorie DOT com

I'm confused about the policy regarding copyright notices in
source files.  For example, here's the header from a DJGPP file:

/* Copyright (C) 1996 DJ Delorie, see COPYING.DJ for details */
/* Copyright (C) 1995 DJ Delorie, see COPYING.DJ for details */
/*
 * This is file GETDOS_V.C
 *
 * Copyright (c) 1994,95 Eli Zaretskii <eliz AT is DOT elta DOT co DOT il>
 *
 * This software may be used freely so long as this copyright notice is
 * left intact.  There is no warranty on this software.
 *
 */

Now, suppose a user (`User') makes some changes to this routine
(improvements, extensions, bugfixes, whatever), would he add his own
copyright line?  If so, what rights does that give him and each of
the two existing copyright holders?  If `User' is just being a nice
guy and making a small contribution to the DJGPP community, would he
even *want* a copyright?  I'm not looking for legal counsel---I just
got to wondering if I should add my own (C) to some source I've hacked
on and (IMHO) improved.

TIA/jtw