@c For double-sided printing, uncomment:
@c @setchapternewpage odd
@c This date is automagically updated when you save this file:
-@set lastupdate October 9, 2006
+@set lastupdate January 15, 2007
@c %**end of header
@dircategory GNU organization
@copying
Information for maintainers of GNU software, last updated @value{lastupdate}.
-Copyright (C) 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000,
-2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
+Copyright @copyright{} 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999,
+2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 Free Software
+Foundation, Inc.
@quotation
Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies
The names of the files are important. The signature file must have the
same name as the file to be distributed, with an additional
@file{.sig} extension. The directive file must have the same name as
-the file to be distributed, with an additional @file{.directive.asc
-extension}. If you do not follow this naming convention, the upload
+the file to be distributed, with an additional @file{.directive.asc}
+extension. If you do not follow this naming convention, the upload
@emph{will not be processed}.
Since v1.1 of the upload script, it is also possible to upload a
announce pretest releases, only real releases. But real releases do
include releases made just to fix bugs.
-@node Web Pages
+@node Web Pages
@chapter Web Pages
@cindex web pages
them up on whatever site is convenient for you, and make the pages on
@code{www.gnu.org} link to that site.
-Web pages for GNU packages should not include GIF images, since the GNU
-project avoids GIFs due to patent problems. @xref{Ethical and
-Philosophical Consideration}.
+Historically, web pages for GNU packages did not include GIF images,
+because of patent problems (@pxref{Ethical and Philosophical
+Consideration}). Although the GIF patents expired in 2006, using GIF
+images is still not recommended, as the PNG and JPEG formats are
+generally superior. See @url{http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/gif.html}.
The web pages for the package should include its manuals, in HTML,
-DVI, Info, PostScript, PDF, plain ASCII, and Texinfo format (source). (All
-of these can be generated automatically from the Texinfo source using
-Makeinfo and other programs.) When there is only one manual, put it
-in a subdirectory called @file{manual}; the file
+DVI, Info, PostScript, PDF, plain ASCII, and Texinfo format (source).
+(All of these can be generated automatically from the Texinfo source
+using Makeinfo and other programs.) When there is only one manual,
+put it in a subdirectory called @file{manual}; the file
@file{manual/index.html} should have a link to the manual in each of
its forms.
* CVS Keywords in Web Pages::
@end menu
-@node Invoking gendocs.sh
-@section Invoking @command{gendocs.sh}
+@node Invoking gendocs.sh
+@section Invoking @command{gendocs.sh}
@pindex gendocs.sh
@cindex generating documentation output
output avoiding the literal keyword string.
-@node Ethical and Philosophical Consideration
+@node Ethical and Philosophical Consideration
@chapter Ethical and Philosophical Consideration
@cindex ethics
@cindex philosophy
software.
Beyond that, sometimes the GNU project takes a strong stand against a
-particular patented technology in order to encourage everyone to reject
-it.
-
-For example, the GIF file format is covered by the LZW software patent
-in the USA. A patent holder has threatened lawsuits against not only
-developers of software to produce GIFs, but even web sites that
-contain them.
-
-For this reason, you should not include GIFs in the web pages for your
-package, nor in the distribution of the package itself. It is ok for
-a GNU package to support displaying GIFs which will come into play if
-a user asks it to operate on one. However, it is essential to provide
-equal or better support for the competing PNG and JPG
-formats---otherwise, the GNU package would be @emph{pressuring} users
-to use GIF format, and that it must not do. More about our stand on
-GIF is available at @uref{http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/gif.html}.
+particular patented technology in order to encourage everyone to
+reject it. For example, until the GIF patents expired in 2006, we
+specified that GNU packages and web pages should not include GIF image
+files, and that equal or better support for other image formats such
+as PNG and JPEG was crucial. (These other formats remain superior, so
+there is still no particular reason to use GIF's.)
Software patents are not the only matter for ethical concern. A GNU
package should not recommend use of any non-free program, nor should it
of the GNU kernel, please call it ``the Hurd'' or ``the GNU Hurd.''
Note that this uses a space, not a slash.
-@node Hosting
+@node Hosting
@chapter Hosting
@cindex CVS repository
@cindex repository
projects / gnulib.git / blobdiff