diff --git a/lisp/emacs-lisp/copyright.el b/lisp/emacs-lisp/copyright.el
index 5f5aecea97a..dd01e7a448d 100644
--- a/lisp/emacs-lisp/copyright.el
+++ b/lisp/emacs-lisp/copyright.el
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ When this is `function', only ask when called non-interactively."
 
 
 ;; when modifying this, also modify the comment generated by autoinsert.el
-(defconst copyright-current-gpl-version "2"
+(defconst copyright-current-gpl-version "3"
   "String representing the current version of the GPL or nil.")
 
 (defvar copyright-update t)