automake-1.16: Distributing

 
 23 Distributing ‘Makefile.in’s
 ******************************
 
 Automake places no restrictions on the distribution of the resulting
 ‘Makefile.in’s.  We still encourage software authors to distribute their
 work under terms like those of the GPL, but doing so is not required to
 use Automake.
 
    Some of the files that can be automatically installed via the
 ‘--add-missing’ switch do fall under the GPL.  However, these also have
 a special exception allowing you to distribute them with your package,
 regardless of the licensing you choose.