Re: [O] Small grammar tweaks in export sections of org.texi

[Brian van den Broek]

On 24 April 2012 23:35, Bastien <address@hidden> 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