boris-kolpackov / template-multi-author

License/Copyright setup template for a multi-author project

template-multi-author

License/Copyright setup template for a project with multiple, changing authors. For example, a project that accepts external constibutions.

1. Copyright notice(s) are in LICENSE if possible/desirable (e.g., MIT) or in COPYRIGHT otherwise.

2. The top copyright notice (whether in LICENSE or in COPYRIGHT) should be a single line in the form:

   Copyright (c) <year> the <project> authors (see the AUTHORS file).
   

   This is important to prevent license mis-detection by GitHub, etc.

3. See the AUTHORS file for the suggested content (replace <project>).

4. See the CONTRIBUTORS.md file for the suggested content.

5. The LEGAL file can be added if additional copyright and/or licensing notes or details are needed. In this case the copyright notice line should be changed to read:

   Copyright (c) <year> the <project> authors (see the AUTHORS and LEGAL files).
   

   Examples of such notes and details include disclaimers of copyright for third-party files incorporated into the project or licensing exception that make it possible to use third-party dependencies.