diff --git a/LICENSE b/LICENSE
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e93ee6d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/LICENSE
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+MIT License
+
+Copyright (c) 2026 levonn-dev
+
+Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
+of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
+in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
+to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
+copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
+furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
+
+The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
+copies or substantial portions of the Software.
+
+THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
+IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
+FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
+AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS 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 939ef18..4822056 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -235,3 +235,22 @@ Push the repository. No build step required. All asset paths are root-relative a
 - **Icon positions** are saved to `localStorage` and persist across refreshes. Clear local storage to reset to defaults.
 - **Window content is cached** per window entry. A page's HTML and assets are fetched on first open and reused on subsequent opens. Refresh the page to pick up content changes during development.
 - **Dynamic windows** (project detail dialogs, game sub-windows) are tracked separately from the static window registry; they don't appear in terminal commands like `ls`.
+
+## License
+
+The **code** in this repository is licensed under the MIT License (see `LICENSE`):
+the desktop shell, app chrome templates (`templates/`, `scripts/`), the terminal
+and its command framework, and the per-page scaffolding (`init.js`, `index.html`,
+loader glue) that wires them together. The README's "Adding Content" section
+documents how to drive it, so reusers can build their own site on the engine.
+
+The following are reserved and **not** covered by the MIT License:
+
+- **Personal content** — `pages/resume/content.html`, `pages/info/content.html`,
+  and the project and game write-ups (`pages/projects/projects.js`, `pages/games/`).
+  All rights reserved.
+- **Media** — `assets/music/`, `assets/downloads/`, and `assets/images/`.
+  All rights reserved.
+- **Win98 artwork** — `assets/icons/`, `assets/cursors/`, and `assets/fonts/`.
+  Windows 98-style artwork, property of their respective owners, included for
+  personal/demonstration use only.