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I have been modifying an open source Apache 2.0 licensed project and now I want to re-distribute the code under the same license but under MY SET OF REPOS as the original company isn't wanting my changes part of theirs.

The catch is that the original company has copyright on their name and they've used it at many places as the package name, class names etc. Even some folders / paths are named with their company name.

I want to remove those to make it a more neutral approach. Doing so changes 90% of the files, there are about 250 files in total.

As per Apache 2.0 License, I need to add significant changes in the file itself. What is the best way to do it, considering :

  • I will re-distribute source code = Yes.
  • I will change package name in approx 250 files and make more modifications in future.
  • They have no copyright or notice file anywhere except their package.json which mentions their company name, which I am ready to keep intact, but no-where else in the code.

So, What exactly should I write if I have to write a notice on top of each 250 files?

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  • You plan to create a fork, so docs.github.com/en/get-started/quickstart/fork-a-repo might give you some answers. As long as you keep the items mentioned in Section 4 of the license apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0 you should be OK. Section 2 gives you a copyright license, so you should not be concerned about using their name in the way they have included it already in their files.
    – Martin_in_AUT
    Jan 13, 2022 at 14:59
  • My Question is about 4.2 which says : You must cause any modified files to carry prominent notices stating that You changed the files; and So do I need to add statements to all 250 files?
    – hussulinux
    Jan 14, 2022 at 3:58
  • Yes, what's the problem with this requirement? Good old vi was already able to do that in a batch job 30 years ago.
    – Martin_in_AUT
    Jan 14, 2022 at 7:24
  • No problem in writing, but what should be the ideal way to write it? What all should be written there?
    – hussulinux
    Jan 14, 2022 at 10:26
  • 1
    This has been discussed multiple times on this site. Try using SEARCH to find what you exactly need. Some of the first answers will be ... opensource.stackexchange.com/questions/2782/… and opensource.stackexchange.com/questions/9199/…
    – Martin_in_AUT
    Jan 14, 2022 at 10:38

1 Answer 1

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It's trademark, not copyright issue.

I recommend you adding "Changelog.txt" file, because you didn't modified file, but it's name. But if you modify class names, you should change that class name in other files.

Then add a changelog in that files "Updated classes names".

THIS POST IS NOT A LEGAL ADVICE

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