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I plan to import works from a Java GPL2 project into a GPL3 one.

  1. How must I "head" all my project derivating sources files : must I put the GPL2 license of the original project (saying that "This file is part of PROJECT_NAME ...") above my project one ?
  2. How should be the LICENSING file of the whole projet : must I put both licenses in it ?
  3. I don't know yet if I will import nearly complete classes or just some pieces of codes from the original project. Anyway, how should I inform the user (saying, in a about dialog) : is saying "Work derivated from PROJECT_NAME project" enough ?

Thanks in advance.

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1 Answer 1

up vote 2 down vote accepted

From How do I upgrade from (L)GPLv2 to (L)GPLv3?

First, include the new version of the license in your package. If you're using LGPLv3 in your project, be sure to include copies of both GPLv3 and LGPLv3, since LGPLv3 is now written as a set of additional permissions on top of GPLv3.

Second, replace all your existing v2 license notices (usually at the top of each file) with the new recommended text available on the GNU licenses howto. It's more future-proof because it no longer includes the FSF's postal mailing address.

Of course, any descriptive text (such as in a README) which talks about the package's license should also be updated appropriately.

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Thank you. But how should I refer to the imported work of the old project : is saying "Derivated from PROJECTNAME project" -and putting the GPL3 header- enough ? Thanks in advance. –  Laurent BERNABE Mar 18 '13 at 21:20
Is the old project yours? If it is, just upgrade the license. If it isn't, see gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#v2v3Compatibility –  Robert Harvey Mar 18 '13 at 21:26
No,the original project is not mine. It is Jose : jose-chess.sourceforge.net . And it seems that it is not in GPL v2+, but just GPL v2.So I think I must release it under GPL v2. Anyway, how should I point that this will be my work, derivated from the Jose project ? –  Laurent BERNABE Mar 18 '13 at 21:31
Thank you : that is exactly what I was looking for :) –  Laurent BERNABE Mar 19 '13 at 10:43

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