On 24 April 2012 23:35, Bastien <b...@gnu.org> wrote: > Hi Brian, <snip>
> Applied, thanks. > >> I've labelled it a TINYCHANGE. I am not sure of the exact bounds of what >> can count as a tiny change, but all this does is insert `a', `an' and `in' >> in a number of places in the docs. > > A "tiny change" is a change that modifies <= than 20 lines. Hi Bastien, Thanks for the reply. I ought to have been more clear; I'd seen the >20 lines standard before, but wasn't sure if 1) it was per patch or cumulative over all patches and 2) if things like fixing a spelling mistake in a variable name over many lines counted. I've read around some more and learned (from <http://www.gnu.org/prep/maintain/maintain.html#Legally-Significant>) that by the gnu projects standards, a) the limit is cumulative over all patches, b) trivial changes like replacing many instances of a name do not count, but multiple such sorts of changes "can" and c) the standard they presently endorse is >15 lines. (Sadly, the document I linked to is a model of neither clarity nor precision.) >> I've quite a few other typo corrections / phrasing improvements I could >> make to the docs, but I cannot presently sign the FSF papers. (I am on >> leave, living abroad for the year, and won't be able to get my employer's >> sign-off until I return home.) I'd appreciate being told if further >> documentation patches can be accepted in these circumstances. If they >> cannot, I will have to wait until I can address the FSF papers issue with >> my employer. > > I suggest this: > > 1. try to figure out what really prevents you from assigning your > copyright to FSF (unless your job contract says "everything you write > in your free time belongs to us", I don't see a real problem here, but > of course I don't have all the cards in hands to judge appropriately.) I don't think my employer (I teach Philosophy at the College-level) has a basis to claim ownership of copyright on my work product, but I also seem to have misplaced my law degree :-) I thus cannot confidently say that it is false that I "have an employer who *might* have a basis" to claim ownership of my changes. I've written the relevant gnu.org address seeking clarification as to whether my good faith belief suffices in my circumstances. Thanks for the guidance. Best, Brian