diff --git a/LICENSE b/LICENSE
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b4052170
--- /dev/null
+++ b/LICENSE
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+Copyright (c) 2010--2017, Olaf Bergmann and others
+All rights reserved.
+
+Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are
+met:
+
+  o Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+
+  o 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.
+
+THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
+"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 COPYRIGHT
+HOLDER OR CONTRIBUTORS 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.
+
+========================================================================
+getopt.c
+
+License information for getopt.c. This file is only used on Windows
+builds of the executables in the examples folder:
+
+/*
+ * This file was copied from the following newsgroup posting:
+ *
+ * Newsgroups: mod.std.unix
+ * Subject: public domain AT&T getopt source
+ * Date: 3 Nov 85 19:34:15 GMT
+ *
+ * Here's something you've all been waiting for:  the AT&T public domain
+ * source for getopt(3).  It is the code which was given out at the 1985
+ * UNIFORUM conference in Dallas.  I obtained it by electronic mail
+ * directly from AT&T.  The people there assure me that it is indeed
+ * in the public domain.
+ */
+
+========================================================================
+OpenSSL
+
+Binaries that are linked against OpenSSL include software developed
+by the OpenSSL Project for use in the OpenSSL Toolkit.
+(http://www.openssl.org/). Please consult the OpenSSL license
+(https://www.openssl.org/source/license.html) for licensing terms.
+
+========================================================================
+GnuTLS
+
+When compiled with GnuTLS support, this software includes components
+that are licensed under the terms of the the GNU Lesser General Public
+License, version 2.1
+(https://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/lgpl-2.1.html).
+
+========================================================================
+tinyDTLS
+
+When compiled with tinyDTLS support, this software includes components
+that are licensed under the terms of the Eclipse Distribution License 1.0
+(http://www.eclipse.org/org/documents/edl-v10.php).
+
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 87ea8149..1c9bb79a 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -27,5 +27,7 @@ LICENSE INFORMATION
 
 This library is published as open-source software without any warranty
 of any kind. Use is permitted under the terms of the simplified BSD
-license. Please refer to LICENSE.BSD for further details.
+license. It includes public domain software. libcoap binaries may also
+include open-source software with their respective licensing terms.
+Please refer to LICENSE for further details.