Bug#1142696: debian-policy [copyright-format]: Support 'Reference:' field in debian/copyright to avoid duplicating common-license texts

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Package: debian-policy
Version: 4.7.4.1
Severity: wishlist

Hi!

I noticed [1] use of a new field 'Reference' in debian/copyright that
appears to avoid the need to put a copy of the license declaration in
debian/copyright for licenses in common-licenses.

Is this something that the debian-policy copyright-format document
should cover?  I don't see it in the current document:

https://www.debian.org/doc/packaging-manuals/copyright-format/1.0/

We already don't put the entire license text of common-license in
debian/copyright since a long time.

It would be nice to avoid the need to cut'n'paste the license
declaration blurbs as well, which often tends to be outdated with old
postal addresses or http:// instead of https:// links and so on.

I expect discussion and lack of consensus for many years :)

/Simon

[1] https://forgejo.debian.net/golang/golang-github-go-git-go-git-v6/commit/9cf508b3b3c2b0d83812c83d05af6966fa09ce14

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