Re: [Qemu-devel] [PATCH, RFC] Add file describing rules for submitting patches

[M. Warner Losh]

In message: <address@hidden>
            Blue Swirl <address@hidden> writes:
: +SP2.4: Optionally, the "Signed-off-by:" line may be followed with a
: +line with only "---" and on the following lines, other comments not
: +intended for changelog (for example diffstat, location of a git tree,
: +whether the patch is also directed towards stable tree, witty
: +signature etc.)
: +
: +SP2.5: Exception: For extremely short and trivial patches (one-line
: +fixes etc.), the description and "Signed-off-by:" lines may be
: +omitted, in which case the subject must be appended with the
: +submitter's name in parenthesis

Signed-off-by: is at least an implied contract that the patch
submitted conforms to the Developer's Certificate of Origin 1.1:

        Developer's Certificate of Origin 1.1

        By making a contribution to this project, I certify that:

        (a) The contribution was created in whole or in part by me and I
            have the right to submit it under the open source license
            indicated in the file; or

        (b) The contribution is based upon previous work that, to the best
            of my knowledge, is covered under an appropriate open source
            license and I have the right under that license to submit that
            work with modifications, whether created in whole or in part
            by me, under the same open source license (unless I am
            permitted to submit under a different license), as indicated
            in the file; or

        (c) The contribution was provided directly to me by some other
            person who certified (a), (b) or (c) and I have not modified
            it.

        (d) I understand and agree that this project and the contribution
            are public and that a record of the contribution (including all
            personal information I submit with it, including my sign-off) is
            maintained indefinitely and may be redistributed consistent with
            this project or the open source license(s) involved.

At least that's what it means for the Linux world.  I believe that
QEMU also follows that, but we should likely make it explicit in this
document.

That's why trivial patches don't necessarily need this: There's no IP
associated with them, so no need to diligently track it.

Warner