The section could definitely be much clearer. How about: Provides-Dist (multiple use) Each entry contains a string naming a requirement that is satisfied by installing this distribution. This field *must* include the project identified in the ``Name`` field, optionally followed by the version: Name (Version). A distribution may provide additional names, e.g. to indicate that multiple projects have been merged into a single distribution or to indicate that this project is a substitute for another. For instance distribute (a fork of setuptools) could ``Provides-Dist`` setuptools to prevent the conflicting package from being downloaded and installed when distribute is already installed. A distribution that has been merged with another might ``Provides-Dist`` the obsolete name(s) to satisfy any projects that require the obsolete distribution's name.