// vim:set filetype=asciidoc:
[[copyright]]
=== *debian/copyright* file

Debian takes the copyright and license matters very seriously. The "`Debian Policy Manual`" enforces having a summary of them in the *debian/copyright* file in the package.

* "`https://www.debian.org/doc/debian-policy/ch-docs.html#s-copyrightfile[12.5. Copyright information]`"
* "`https://www.debian.org/doc/debian-policy/ch-archive.html#s-pkgcopyright[2.3. Copyright considerations]`"
* "`https://www.debian.org/legal/licenses/[License information]`"

The *debmake* command creates the initial *debian/copyright* template file.

* Please double check copyright with the **licensecheck**(1) command.
* Please format it as a "`https://www.debian.org/doc/packaging-manuals/copyright-format/1.0/[machine-readable *debian/copyright* file (DEP-5)]`".

Unless specifically requested to be pedantic with the *-P* option, the *debmake* command skips reporting for auto-generated files with permissive licenses to be practical.

CAUTION: The *debian/copyright* file should be sorted to keep the generic file patterns at the top of the list.  See "`<<koption>>`".

NOTE: If you find issues with this license checker, please file a bug report to the *debmake* package with the problematic part of text containing the copyright and license.
