diff --git a/README b/README
index e69de29bb..dbb903fc4 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+    ________________________________README_________________________________
+     ___________		     _________		      _____  __
+     \_	  _____/______   ____   ____ \_   ___ \____________ _/ ____\/  |_
+      |    __) \_  __ \_/ __ \_/ __ \/    \  \/\_  __ \__  \\   __\\   __\ 
+      |     \   |  | \/\  ___/\  ___/\     \____|  | \// __ \|  |   |  |
+      \___  /   |__|    \___  >\___  >\______  /|__|  (____  /__|   |__|
+	  \/		    \/	   \/	     \/		   \/
+    ______________________                           ______________________
+			  T H E   W A R   B E G I N S
+	   FreeCraft - A free fantasy real time strategy game engine
+
+Read doc/LICENSE for the software license informations.
+Read doc/OPL for the content (art) license informations.
+Read doc/readme.html for more informations.
+Read doc/install.html to install or upgrade FreeCraft.
+
+Note:
+  SIOD Copyright by PARADIGM ASSOCIATES INCORPORATED, CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.
+  ETLIB Copyright by Edgar Toernig.
+  other parts copyrights please look into the doc directory.
+
+Warning: 
+	THIS PACKAGE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND WITHOUT ANY EXPRESS OR   
+	IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE IMPLIED
+	WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
+
+     (C) 1998-2000 Johns of The FreeCraft Project (aleclone@FreeCraft.org)