[Fedora-packaging] Duplicate files

[Tom "spot" Callaway]

On 11/08/2009 03:10 AM, Jason L Tibbitts III wrote:
> http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Packaging:Guidelines#Duplicate_Files is
> pretty clear:
> 
> ----
> Duplicate Files
> 
> A Fedora package must not list a file more than once in the spec file's
> %files listings. If you think your package is a valid exception to this,
> please bring it to the attention of the Packaging Committee so they can
> improve on this Guideline.
> ----
> 
> However, some packagers absolutely insist on duplicating license files
> (say, once in the main package, and again in the -devel package) and
> this issue keeps coming up.
> 
> Can we make a clear determination as to whether there are circumstances
> where duplication of license files is permitted, and clearly outline
> those situations in the guidelines?  My understanding of the current
> opinion from the legal folks is that we must duplicate the license files
> if there's no clear dependency chain between the packages.  Otherwise I
> think that we have enough duplicated copies of the GPL floating around
> and we should try to keep the number down where we can.

How about something like this:

* For binary RPMs, the complete set of license files (as provided by
  upstream) must be included in the %doc section of either the main
  binary rpm or a common RPM that the other binary sub-packages depend
  on. Independent sub-packages are required to include their own copy
  of the relevant license texts (as provided by upstream).

~spot