Merge branch 'main' into pep-794

Author: brettcannon

source/specifications/core-metadata.rst

@@ -483,6 +483,12 @@ Text string that is a valid SPDX
 :term:`license expression <License Expression>`,
 as specified in :doc:`/specifications/license-expression`.
 
+Note that the expression in this field only applies to the
+:term:`Distribution Archive` containing the metadata with this field (e.g.,
+:term:`Source Distribution <Source Distribution (or "sdist")>` or :term:`Wheel`),
+not the project overall or other files related to the project (including other
+distribution archives).
+
 Examples::
 
     License-Expression: MIT
@@ -1061,6 +1067,9 @@ History
 
   - Added the ``Import-Name`` field.
   - Added the ``Import-Namespace`` field.
+  
+- October 2025: Clarified that ``License-Expression`` applies to the containing
+  distribution file and not the project itself.
 
 ----
 

source/specifications/pyproject-toml.rst

@@ -261,6 +261,12 @@ Text string that is a valid SPDX
 as specified in :doc:`/specifications/license-expression`.
 Tools SHOULD validate and perform case normalization of the expression.
 
+This key should **only** be specified if the license expression for any
+and all distribution files created by a build backend using the
+:file:`pyproject.toml` is the same as the one specified. If the license
+expression will differ then it should either be specified as dynamic or
+not set at all.
+
 Legacy specification
 ''''''''''''''''''''
 
@@ -633,8 +639,10 @@ History
 - December 2024: The ``license`` key was redefined, the ``license-files`` key was
   added and ``License::`` classifiers were deprecated through :pep:`639`.
 
-- September 2025: The ``import-names`` and ``import-namespaces`` keys were added
-  through :pep:`794`.
+- September 2025: Clarity that the ``license`` key applies to all distribution
+  files generated from the :file:`pyproject.toml` file.
 
+- October 2025: The ``import-names`` and ``import-namespaces`` keys were added
+  through :pep:`794`.
 
 .. _TOML: https://toml.io