Jujutsu: a new, Git-compatible version control system [LWN.net]

Jujutsu: a new, Git-compatible version control system

Posted Jan 22, 2024 11:30 UTC (Mon) by khim (subscriber, #9252)
In reply to: Jujutsu: a new, Git-compatible version control system by farnz
Parent article: Jujutsu: a new, Git-compatible version control system

> Under the Google CLA, if Google decides that it wants to use my contribution in a fully proprietary system, it can, and it can even charge me for the privilege of licensing the latest version with my contribution included.

Google doesn't need CLA for that, Apache License permits them to do that without any copyright assignment.

> The distinction is that under the DCO system, if Linus decides to change the kernel licensing terms, he needs permission from all DCO contributors (some of whom may have already granted it, but still).

That's precisely the only difference and it's more of theoretical one than practical one. If there would be some loophole in Apache License or law would be changed enough to warrant difference in license then Google wants to be able to change the terms.

All other practical and theoretical needs are handled by Apache License itself, not CLA.

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Jujutsu: a new, Git-compatible version control system

Posted Jan 24, 2024 11:52 UTC (Wed) by adobriyan (subscriber, #30858) [Link] (1 responses)

> Google doesn't need CLA for that, Apache License permits them to do that without any copyright assignment.

Why are they asking for CLA then?

Jujutsu: a new, Git-compatible version control system

Posted Jan 24, 2024 12:34 UTC (Wed) by khim (subscriber, #9252) [Link]

To shift the liability.

The important part that CLA includes (and which Apache License doesn't include) is your signature and assertion that you have the right to pass that code to Google.

If you also have agreement with your employer that prevents that then you couldn't just turn around and say that what you did was a mistake: you employer would have to sue you then get court decision and only then said license may be annulled.

You may say that it's unfair that trillion-dollar corporation shifts the responsibility on poor small guy, but Google may also say that your two-line contribution is not worth taking that responsibility either.

If your contribution is large and valuable, on the other hand, then you may always fork the project and then CLA, of course, doesn't apply.