diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index a153282..fdc2943 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -4,6 +4,12 @@ All notable changes to this project are documented in this file.
 
 The format follows [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.1.0/) and [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/).
 
+## [Unreleased]
+
+### Changed
+
+- Documented free written licenses and registration for security advisories and critical update notices.
+
 ## [1.0.0-rc.1] - 2026-11-12
 
 First release candidate, published on [Packagist](https://packagist.org/packages/maatify/php-persistence).
diff --git a/LICENSE b/LICENSE
index 23c643a..6eac101 100644
--- a/LICENSE
+++ b/LICENSE
@@ -12,6 +12,17 @@ sell, create derivative works from, or commercially exploit the software
 without prior written authorization or a separate written license agreement
 from Maatify.
 
+Free license and registration
+
+Maatify issues licenses for this software at no charge. Except as expressly
+permitted above or by applicable law, you must obtain written authorization
+from Maatify before using the software. To request a license, contact
+support@maatify.dev.
+
+Maatify maintains a register of license holders and uses their designated
+contact details to administer licenses and send security advisories and
+critical update notices.
+
 Unauthorized use is prohibited.
 
 THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 74c9420..5476349 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -150,7 +150,12 @@ See [docs/architecture/QUALITY_TOOLING.md](docs/architecture/QUALITY_TOOLING.md)
 
 ## License
 
-Maatify Proprietary License — see [LICENSE](LICENSE). No usage rights are granted beyond what that file states.
+This package is proprietary. For use under the terms on this branch, request
+a free written license from [support@maatify.dev](mailto:support@maatify.dev).
+Include your organization name, if applicable, and an email address for
+security advisories and critical update notices. Maatify uses these details
+to administer licenses and send those notices. See [LICENSE](LICENSE) for
+the terms. Published versions carry their own license file.
 
 ## 👤 Author
 
diff --git a/docs/decisions/DEC-002-proprietary-licensing.md b/docs/decisions/DEC-002-proprietary-licensing.md
index fbc5bab..952adf2 100644
--- a/docs/decisions/DEC-002-proprietary-licensing.md
+++ b/docs/decisions/DEC-002-proprietary-licensing.md
@@ -2,12 +2,12 @@
 
 - **Decision ID:** `DEC-002`
 - **Title:** Proprietary licensing
-- **Status:** `ACTIVE`
+- **Status:** `SUPERSEDED`
 - **Date:** `2026-10-23`
 - **Decision Authority:** `Project Owner`
 - **Scope / Concern:** License of the repository and of any package distributed from it.
 - **Supersedes:** `—`
-- **Superseded By:** `—`
+- **Superseded By:** `DEC-014`
 - **Canonical Contract / Current Owner:** [LICENSE](../../LICENSE)
 
 ## Context
diff --git a/docs/decisions/DEC-014-free-license-registration.md b/docs/decisions/DEC-014-free-license-registration.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..67ce3f8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/decisions/DEC-014-free-license-registration.md
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+# DEC-014 — Free written licenses and registration
+
+- **Decision ID:** `DEC-014`
+- **Title:** Free written licenses and registration
+- **Status:** `ACTIVE`
+- **Date:** `2026-11-13`
+- **Decision Authority:** `Project Owner`
+- **Scope / Concern:** Proprietary licensing and registration for the next package release.
+- **Supersedes:** `DEC-002`
+- **Superseded By:** `—`
+- **Canonical Contract / Current Owner:** [LICENSE](../../LICENSE)
+
+## Decision
+
+The package retains the Maatify Proprietary License and Maatify remains the
+rights holder. Maatify issues written licenses at no charge and uses the
+registered contact details to administer licenses and send security advisories
+and critical update notices. Composer continues to identify the license as
+`proprietary`. The provenance and third-party notice requirements in DEC-002
+continue to apply.
+
+## Release boundary
+
+Include these terms with the next RC or Stable release through the usual
+release process. This decision does not authorize a release or modify an
+already published artifact.
diff --git a/docs/decisions/DECISIONS_INDEX.md b/docs/decisions/DECISIONS_INDEX.md
index e11b714..d76c4d8 100644
--- a/docs/decisions/DECISIONS_INDEX.md
+++ b/docs/decisions/DECISIONS_INDEX.md
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ Current-state discovery surface for durable decisions of this repository. It is
 | Decision ID | Title | Status | Scope / Concern | Decision Record | Canonical Contract / Current Owner | Supersedes | Superseded By |
 |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | `DEC-001` | Initial default-branch bootstrap of the empty repository | `ACTIVE` | One-time creation of `main` by direct initial commit; contents and authorized Git operations. | [DEC-001-initial-repository-bootstrap.md](./DEC-001-initial-repository-bootstrap.md) | This record (the central standards define no empty-repository procedure). | — | — |
-| `DEC-002` | Proprietary licensing | `ACTIVE` | Repository license: Maatify Proprietary License, not MIT. | [DEC-002-proprietary-licensing.md](./DEC-002-proprietary-licensing.md) | `LICENSE` | — | — |
+| `DEC-002` | Proprietary licensing | `SUPERSEDED` | Repository license: Maatify Proprietary License, not MIT. | [DEC-002-proprietary-licensing.md](./DEC-002-proprietary-licensing.md) | `LICENSE` | — | `DEC-014` |
 | `DEC-003` | Selective pinned standards adoption at an exact upstream commit | `ACTIVE` | Pinned engineering standards snapshot `ebcf55b…` (Owner decision M-5) and adoption scope. | [DEC-003-pinned-standards-adoption.md](./DEC-003-pinned-standards-adoption.md) | [STANDARDS_MANIFEST.md](../php-engineering-standards/STANDARDS_MANIFEST.md) | — | — |
 | `DEC-004` | Package identity, root namespace and exception marker | `ACTIVE` | `maatify/php-persistence`, `Maatify\PhpPersistence\`, `PhpPersistenceExceptionInterface`, `PageResultDTO`. | [DEC-004-package-identity-namespace-and-exception-marker.md](./DEC-004-package-identity-namespace-and-exception-marker.md) | This record; [CONTRACT_MATRIX.md](../architecture/CONTRACT_MATRIX.md) | — | — |
 | `DEC-005` | Coexistence with the legacy package, without compatibility shortcuts | `ACTIVE` | Both packages installable together; no `replace`, `provide`, `conflict`, `class_alias` or bridges. | [DEC-005-coexistence-with-legacy-package.md](./DEC-005-coexistence-with-legacy-package.md) | This record | — | — |
@@ -17,3 +17,4 @@ Current-state discovery surface for durable decisions of this repository. It is
 | `DEC-011` | Responsibility placement, savepoint helper ownership and retained names | `ACTIVE` | `Repository/` for SQL-issuing classes, single `@internal` savepoint helper, no optional renames. WU-6 characterization tests remain mandatory before the API freeze. | [DEC-011-responsibility-placement-and-savepoint-helper.md](./DEC-011-responsibility-placement-and-savepoint-helper.md) | [ARCHITECTURE.md](../architecture/ARCHITECTURE.md) | — | — |
 | `DEC-012` | Mandatory PDO MySQL driver | `ACTIVE` | `ext-pdo` and `ext-pdo_mysql` as unconditional `require` entries; no optional-driver path; `maatify/exceptions` declared ahead of the first exception class. | [DEC-012-mandatory-pdo-mysql-driver.md](./DEC-012-mandatory-pdo-mysql-driver.md) | `composer.json`; pinned [Composer Package Standard](../php-engineering-standards/standards/packages/COMPOSER_PACKAGE_STANDARD.md) §15.2 | — | — |
 | `DEC-013` | Test-only database version boundary | `ACTIVE` | Real-database test matrix: MySQL `8.0.16`, `8.4.13`, `9.7.4`; MariaDB `10.11.19`, `11.4.13`, `11.8.9`, `12.3.3`; Innovation exploratory only; upper edge capped at the highest verified endpoint. Not a support claim. | [DEC-013-test-only-database-version-boundary.md](./DEC-013-test-only-database-version-boundary.md) | `docker/integration-matrix.json`; [CI_AND_INTEGRATION.md](../architecture/CI_AND_INTEGRATION.md) | — | — |
+| `DEC-014` | Free written licenses and registration | `ACTIVE` | Proprietary terms for the next release and security notices for license holders. | [DEC-014-free-license-registration.md](./DEC-014-free-license-registration.md) | `LICENSE` | `DEC-002` | — |