Re: Question about automatic generation of GPLv3 COPYING file

[Richard M. Stallman]

    This has caused some confusion for some modules (such as the GNOME
    gconf-editor, gnome-settings-daemon, gnome-media-apps, and gphoto
    modules).  These programs are licensed under GPLv2 (or later).  But
    since these modules didn't have a COPYING file, now they have a GPLv3
    COPYING file due to this default automake behavior.  So now there is
    some confusion about whether these modules are really GPLv2 or GPLv3.

They ought to have a COPYING file.  Why not fix these packages
to have the COPYING file that is appropriate for them?

However, it occurs to me that Automake could warn about the lack
rather than supply one.  Or it could ask what to do
in this case.