changed = true;
        } else {
            changed = metadata.merge(this.metadata);
        }

        // beware meta-versions!
        String version = metadata.getVersion();
        if (Artifact.LATEST_VERSION.equals(version) || Artifact.RELEASE_VERSION.equals(version)) {
            // meta-versions are not valid <version/> values...don't write them.
            metadata.setVersion(null);
        }