diff --git a/LICENSE b/LICENSE
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e096de7874
--- /dev/null
+++ b/LICENSE
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+Copyright (c) 2008-2016 Lightbend Inc.
+All rights reserved.
+
+Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
+are met:
+1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+   notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+   notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
+   documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+3. The name of the author may not be used to endorse or promote products
+   derived from this software without specific prior written permission.
+
+THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR ``AS IS'' AND ANY EXPRESS OR
+IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES
+OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED.
+IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT,
+INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT
+NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
+DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY
+THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
+(INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF
+THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index dbae01e5f8..63789ed2e8 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -10,6 +10,12 @@ $ git filter-branch --index-filter 'git rm --cached -qr -- . && git reset -q $GI
 ```
 
 Status
-======
+------
 
 The zinc project that lives under "sbt" organization is a successor to [`typesafehub/zinc`](https://github.com/typesafehub/zinc). The intent is to polish this project and retire zinc living under typesafehub. Check [#80](https://github.com/sbt/zinc/issues/80) for more information.
+
+
+License
+-------
+
+See [LICENSE].