diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1955960
--- /dev/null
+++ b/LICENSE.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+ANTI-CAPITALIST SOFTWARE LICENSE (v 1.4)
+
+Copyright © [2026] [Jared Tyler Miller <jared@smell.flowers>]
+
+This is anti-capitalist software, released for free use by individuals and
+organizations that do not operate by capitalist principles.
+
+Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person or organization
+(the "User") obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation
+files (the "Software"), to use, copy, modify, merge, distribute, and/or sell
+copies of the Software, subject to the following conditions:
+
+1. The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in
+   all copies or modified versions of the Software.
+
+2. The User is one of the following: a. An individual person, laboring for
+   themselves b. A non-profit organization c. An educational institution d. An
+   organization that seeks shared profit for all of its members, and allows
+   non-members to set the cost of their labor
+
+3. If the User is an organization with owners, then all owners are workers and
+   all workers are owners with equal equity and/or equal vote.
+
+4. If the User is an organization, then the User is not law enforcement or
+   military, or working for or under either.
+
+THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTY OF ANY
+KIND, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS
+FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS BE
+LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF
+CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE
+SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ed084f9..b26e373 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 # mudlib
 
-A telnet MUD engine. No client needed — just `telnet` and you're in.
+a telnet MUD engine
 
-Built on telnetlib3, Python 3.12+, managed with uv.
+built on telnetlib3, python 3.12+, managed with uv.
 
 ## Quickstart
 
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ uv sync
 just run
 ```
 
-Then connect: `telnet localhost 6789`
+then connect: `telnet localhost 6789`
 
 ## Commands
 
@@ -30,15 +30,6 @@ just render  # generate world map HTML
 - `docs/` — internal knowledge base
 - `DREAMBOOK.md` — vision and wild ideas
 
-## How it works
+## License
 
-The world is a toroidal 2D grid of terrain tiles, not discrete rooms. Players
-see a viewport centered on their position. Terrain types have mechanics —
-shallow water slows you, mountains block you, forests hide you.
-
-Combat is timing-based with telegraphed moves and cooldown management, not
-turn-based.
-
-The server runs a tick-based async game loop alongside the telnet server.
-SQLite handles persistence. Session mode stacks filter what reaches the player
-depending on context (exploring, fighting, composing, solving puzzles).
+Reference URL (non-binding): https://anticapitalist.software/