diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
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--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,3 +1,39 @@
-# wcl-nodes
+# WCL Node Registry
 
-WCL federated node registry — nodes.txt + license text
\ No newline at end of file
+This repository is the federation hub for the **WellSpr.ing Covenant License (WCL)**  
+distributed node network.
+
+## What lives here
+
+| File | Purpose |
+|---|---|
+| `WCL-1.1.md` | Current license text (canonical git copy) |
+| `WCL-1.0.md` | Previous version (archived) |
+| `nodes.txt` | Registry of federated WCL node URLs |
+| `CONTRIBUTING.md` | How to register your node |
+
+## The node architecture
+
+WCL-1.1 removes the dissolution clause and replaces it with this network.  
+A WCL node is any publicly-accessible URL that hosts the WCL-1.1 license text.  
+The network of nodes is the license — it cannot be taken down by removing any single URL.
+
+**Canonical served page:** https://wellspr.ing/license/wcl-1.1  
+**Canonical git copy:** https://git.wellspr.ing/WellBuilder/wcl-nodes/raw/branch/main/WCL-1.1.md  
+**Version index:** https://wellspr.ing/license/wcl
+
+## Running a node
+
+1. Host `WCL-1.1.md` at a stable URL
+2. Submit a pull request adding your URL to `nodes.txt`
+3. Optionally mirror the release bundle from `git.wellspr.ing/WellBuilder/notshop-bundle`
+
+## Using WCL in your project
+
+Add to your README:
+
+```
+Licensed under WCL-1.1. See https://wellspr.ing/license/wcl-1.1
+```
+
+SPDX identifier: `LicenseRef-WCL-1.1`