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fsfe / reuse-tool

reuse is a tool for compliance with the REUSE recommendations.
https://reuse.software
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Include GPL 3.0 license alongside LGPL 3.0 because LGPL 3.0 references GPL 3.0 #1056

Closed JacksonBailey closed 2 months ago

JacksonBailey commented 2 months ago

The LGPL 3.0 is only a complete license when the text of the GPL 3.0 is included. From the text,

This version of the GNU Lesser General Public License incorporates the terms and conditions of version 3 of the GNU General Public License, supplemented by the additional permissions listed below.

It would be nice if the tool downloaded the file that has both together or downloaded the GPL 3.0 license file when downloading the LGPL 3.0 license. (Or at least reuse lint not complaining when I include GPL 3.0 despite not explicitly using it for anything.)

To my (limited) knowledge, there aren't any other common licenses like this. Even the LGPL 2.1 is a "stand alone" license. I've seen people call LGPL 3.0 an exception to GPL 3.0 but I don't think that's accurate (and either way, SPDX doesn't call it one).

JacksonBailey commented 2 months ago

I must have been tired when I made this. The version of the LGPL downloaded actually includes the GPL. My mistake!