all: delete AUTHORS, CONTRIBUTORS files

[rsc]

In 2009, Google's open-source lawyers required us to create the AUTHORS file to define "The Go Authors".

Re-reviewing our repos now in 2022, the open-source lawyers are comfortable with source control history serving that purpose instead, meaning that we are permitted to delete the AUTHORS and CONTRIBUTORS files from all the repos. I intend to do exactly that, which will let us close #12042 once and for all.

[mvdan]

Out of curiosity, what about source archives where the source control history is missing? Are we OK with those not shipping with a definition of "The Go Authors"?

[rsc]

Legally speaking, yes, we are okay with that (that is, Google's lawyers tell me we are). The details of who owns what for copyright purposes are entirely independent of what the AUTHORS file says. Also we haven't even updated the AUTHORS file regularly since around Go 1.11 - see the top of https://tip.golang.org/AUTHORS.

https://google.github.io/opencasebook/authorship/ has a law school-style casebook about copyright authorship for anyone who is interested in a more in-depth introduction to the legal landscape. (And https://google.github.io/opencasebook/ has some other topics too.)

[gopherbot]

Change https://go.dev/cl/418916 mentions this issue: A+C: delete AUTHORS and CONTRIBUTORS

[gopherbot]

Change https://go.dev/cl/419074 mentions this issue: A+C: delete AUTHORS and CONTRIBUTORS

[gopherbot]

Change https://go.dev/cl/418900 mentions this issue: A+C: delete AUTHORS and CONTRIBUTORS

[gopherbot]

Change https://go.dev/cl/419094 mentions this issue: A+C: delete AUTHORS and CONTRIBUTORS

[gopherbot]

Change https://go.dev/cl/418917 mentions this issue: A+C: delete AUTHORS and CONTRIBUTORS

[gopherbot]

Change https://go.dev/cl/419095 mentions this issue: A+C: delete AUTHORS and CONTRIBUTORS

[gopherbot]

Change https://go.dev/cl/419096 mentions this issue: A+C: delete AUTHORS and CONTRIBUTORS

[gopherbot]

Change https://go.dev/cl/419097 mentions this issue: A+C: delete AUTHORS and CONTRIBUTORS

[gopherbot]

Change https://go.dev/cl/419099 mentions this issue: A+C: delete AUTHORS and CONTRIBUTORS

[gopherbot]

Change https://go.dev/cl/418918 mentions this issue: A+C: delete AUTHORS and CONTRIBUTORS