diff --git a/README b/README
index d2690ec8dc..96822e36db 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -19,7 +19,9 @@ Git is a fast, scalable, distributed revision control system with an
 unusually rich command set that provides both high-level operations
 and full access to internals.
 
-Git is an Open Source project covered by the GNU General Public License.
+Git is an Open Source project covered by the GNU General Public
+License version 2 (some parts of it are under different licenses,
+compatible with the GPLv2).
 It was originally written by Linus Torvalds with help of a group of
 hackers around the net. It is currently maintained by Junio C Hamano.