Re: adding and forking someone else's GPL software - what should i do?

On Sun, Nov 20, 2011 at 10:29, Robin Paulson <[email protected]> wrote:

> i've been working on some software recently, a firefox extension.
> i made some changes which i think are necessary to the extension, and made a
> pull request. the authors of the project wouldn't accept them.
>
> so, i decided to release the software myself, as a fork, although i will be
> merging in most of the updates made by the core developers
>
> the question is, what changes would you suggest i make to the software to
> reflect that it is now different to the original package?
>
> reading the GPL, i don't see anything i am obliged to do, but i may be wrong
> in my interpretation. i guess there are requirements around trademarking,
> and whether i am allowed to use the name of the software any more.
> also, putting aside legalities, is there anything which you would recommend
> i do ethically and morally?

Legally, you are about right there.  Essentially, the GPL requires
nothing in that regard.

It would be good, though, to rename your fork, and to document why it
forked, so that people can understand and make a reasonable decision
about what to use, the fork, or the original project.

(It also helps if you stop maintaining the fork, since then at least
people know of the existence of the original.)

Daniel
-- 
♲ Made with 100 percent post-consumer electrons

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