Branden Robinson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > On Mon, Dec 03, 2001 at 10:26:24AM -0800, Thomas Bushnell, BSG wrote: > > Perhaps. The GPL rule is that the modified file must contain the > > modifier's name and the date *of the modification*--diff doesn't know > > that, because it can only look at file timestamps. > > Well, diff uses the mtime, doesn't it?
Yes, but strictly speaking the mtime on a file is not a reliable indication of when a modification was actually made. > Strictly speaking, when a Debian source package consists of a pristine > source tarball and a .diff.gz, the original files are *not* modified, > except at package build time, which means the date of modification is > whatever the clock on the wall says when you build the package. > > I acknowledge that this may not be the spirit, or intent, of the > requirement. Right, the act of modification (legally) is something that only the modifier can know; it can't be deduced from timestamps or when a particular technical act is done. To follow the rule (strictly speaking): when you make the change to the file, sign and date it then.
