[License-discuss] Changes made by derivative works

[Gervase Markham]

On 30/01/13 06:25, Prashant Shah wrote:
> Is there any better way to handle changes made by any derivative works
> rather than using the following sentence.
> 
> "You must cause any modified files to carry prominent notices stating
> that You changed the files"

What do you mean by "handle"?

If you are writing a license, please don't include a line like this.
Depending on how you interpret it, it's either ineffective (because the
next person can simply remove your notices as part of their change) or a
pain in the behind (as your file fills up with notices which are best
maintained in your source code management system anyway). This makes
such lines in existing licenses far more honoured in the breach than the
observance.

The days of tracking code provenance via in-file comments are gone. And
they are not missed IMO.

Gerv