This note is motivated by mr.nuke.me's recent CLs with a short-form GPL notice in them. I like that notice but I think it needs a tweak, then we can just use it everywhere.
I just got done relicensing a different project under the GPL. In the process I had to discuss wording and such with Eben Moglen.
Based on his suggestions the other project ended up with a very standard form which I've adapted for coreboot.
In each file, we'd have this to replace the current pile of text.
"This file is part of Coreboot Project. It is subject to the license terms in the LICENSE file found in the top-level directory of this distribution and at http://www.coreboot.org/license.html. No part of the Coreboot Project, including this file, may be copied, modified, propagated, or distributed except according to the terms contained in the LICENSE file."
OK, I admit, I painted it because I'm sure the shed will end up with a different color :-) Yes, yes, no html formatting in emails etc. etc. but sometimes rules must be broken.
I regret that it contains a URL, but in these dark times, one must make concessions.
But before we go much further, it's probably a good time to get this standard short-form text right, before we end up with another pile of license text in files that doesn't match anything else.
So, does this work or do people have objections?
ron