Updating from GPLv2 to GPLv3

As this question has come up earlier I think it's a good idea to point out how to do that.

Your own project

In order to update your very own project (ie. you are the sole copyright holder) the only thing you have to do is:

• Update the COPYING file in your source tarball
• Update references to 'version 2' in your license notices to 'version 3'

Release it - done.

I strongly recommend checking your dependencies!
Don't forget that the GPLv3 is incompatible with GPLv2-only. This means that if you have any GPLv2-only dependencies you cannot update. The best idea might be contacting the owner of the code in question and ask them to move to GPLv3 or 'GPLv2 or later'.

Oh, and by the way, if a license notice does not explicitly state a version of the license you may choose the version yourself - so there is no problem with that.

Other's code

Even though a lot of people don't know that, you may update the license notices and the COPYING file of other packages if they state that you may choose 'either version 2, or (at your option) any later version'.

Last but not least: I AM NOT A LAWYER. The information in this post should be correct though