diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index b298424..84bcef1 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -76,9 +76,9 @@ install:
   - pip install -r requirements.txt
 
 script:
-    # pep8 tests
-  - pep8 --ignore E501 update.py
-  - pep8 --ignore E501,E265 autocmake
+    # pycodestyle tests
+  - pycodestyle --ignore E501 update.py
+  - pycodestyle --ignore E501,E265,E741 autocmake
     # unit tests
   - py.test -vv autocmake/*
   - py.test -vv test/test.py
diff --git a/doc/contributors/testing.rst b/doc/contributors/testing.rst
index d320fca..99345c3 100644
--- a/doc/contributors/testing.rst
+++ b/doc/contributors/testing.rst
@@ -11,8 +11,8 @@ build and test recipe for other requirements.
 Your contributions and changes should preserve the test set and be PEP8 conform.
 You can run locally all tests with::
 
-  $ pep8 --ignore E501 update.py
-  $ pep8 --ignore E501,E265 autocmake
+  $ pycodestyle --ignore E501 update.py
+  $ pycodestyle --ignore E501,E265 autocmake
   $ py.test -vv autocmake/*
   $ py.test -vv test/test.py
 
diff --git a/modules/attach-license-header.py b/modules/attach-license-header.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..43e12b3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/attach-license-header.py
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+import glob
+
+license_text = '''# (c) https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/AUTHORS.md
+# licensed under BSD-3: https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/LICENSE
+
+'''
+
+for filename in glob.iglob('**/*.cmake', recursive=True):
+    with open(filename, 'r') as old:
+        text = old.read()
+    with open(filename, 'w') as new:
+        new.write(license_text)
+        new.write(text)
diff --git a/modules/boost/boost.cmake b/modules/boost/boost.cmake
index a33665e..cbfabfd 100644
--- a/modules/boost/boost.cmake
+++ b/modules/boost/boost.cmake
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# (c) https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/AUTHORS.md
+# licensed under BSD-3: https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/LICENSE
+
 #.rst:
 #
 # Detect, build, and link Boost libraries.
diff --git a/modules/boost/boost_build.cmake b/modules/boost/boost_build.cmake
index 8fcea49..c4b4c7e 100644
--- a/modules/boost/boost_build.cmake
+++ b/modules/boost/boost_build.cmake
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# (c) https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/AUTHORS.md
+# licensed under BSD-3: https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/LICENSE
+
 # Build Boost
 # This is not Windows-friendly!
 add_custom_command(
diff --git a/modules/boost/boost_cleanup.cmake b/modules/boost/boost_cleanup.cmake
index 2c0faff..bbe878f 100644
--- a/modules/boost/boost_cleanup.cmake
+++ b/modules/boost/boost_cleanup.cmake
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# (c) https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/AUTHORS.md
+# licensed under BSD-3: https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/LICENSE
+
 # Clean-up
 add_custom_command(
     OUTPUT ${CUSTOM_BOOST_LOCATION}/boost.cleanedup
diff --git a/modules/boost/boost_configure.cmake b/modules/boost/boost_configure.cmake
index 36c65ee..fdbe01a 100644
--- a/modules/boost/boost_configure.cmake
+++ b/modules/boost/boost_configure.cmake
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# (c) https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/AUTHORS.md
+# licensed under BSD-3: https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/LICENSE
+
 # Run bootstrap.sh to configure the build. We will install in ${PROJECT_BINARY_DIR}/boost
 # This is not Windows-friendly!
 add_custom_command(
diff --git a/modules/boost/boost_headers.cmake b/modules/boost/boost_headers.cmake
index 9e33d8c..a8fad94 100644
--- a/modules/boost/boost_headers.cmake
+++ b/modules/boost/boost_headers.cmake
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# (c) https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/AUTHORS.md
+# licensed under BSD-3: https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/LICENSE
+
 # Install Boost
 add_custom_command(
     OUTPUT ${CUSTOM_BOOST_LOCATION}/boost.installed
diff --git a/modules/boost/boost_install.cmake b/modules/boost/boost_install.cmake
index 21354b1..cfbb91c 100644
--- a/modules/boost/boost_install.cmake
+++ b/modules/boost/boost_install.cmake
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# (c) https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/AUTHORS.md
+# licensed under BSD-3: https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/LICENSE
+
 # Install Boost
 # This is not Windows-friendly!
 add_custom_command(
diff --git a/modules/boost/boost_unpack.cmake b/modules/boost/boost_unpack.cmake
index 93dc0c7..4bd3169 100644
--- a/modules/boost/boost_unpack.cmake
+++ b/modules/boost/boost_unpack.cmake
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# (c) https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/AUTHORS.md
+# licensed under BSD-3: https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/LICENSE
+
 # Unpack Boost
 add_custom_command(
     OUTPUT ${CUSTOM_BOOST_LOCATION}/boost.unpacked
diff --git a/modules/boost/boost_userconfig.cmake b/modules/boost/boost_userconfig.cmake
index 73236ee..12ca4ff 100644
--- a/modules/boost/boost_userconfig.cmake
+++ b/modules/boost/boost_userconfig.cmake
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# (c) https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/AUTHORS.md
+# licensed under BSD-3: https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/LICENSE
+
 # To get boost to compile MPI we need to append "using mpi ;" to the end of the
 # user-config.jam file. MPI_SENT will be the command we append
 set(MPI_SENT "")
diff --git a/modules/cc.cmake b/modules/cc.cmake
index a4f6882..343ca3e 100644
--- a/modules/cc.cmake
+++ b/modules/cc.cmake
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# (c) https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/AUTHORS.md
+# licensed under BSD-3: https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/LICENSE
+
 #.rst:
 #
 # Adds C support.
diff --git a/modules/ccache.cmake b/modules/ccache.cmake
index 3979fa2..4a7dcc4 100644
--- a/modules/ccache.cmake
+++ b/modules/ccache.cmake
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# (c) https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/AUTHORS.md
+# licensed under BSD-3: https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/LICENSE
+
 #.rst:
 #
 # Adds ccache support.
diff --git a/modules/code_coverage.cmake b/modules/code_coverage.cmake
index 650f983..0493a8e 100644
--- a/modules/code_coverage.cmake
+++ b/modules/code_coverage.cmake
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# (c) https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/AUTHORS.md
+# licensed under BSD-3: https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/LICENSE
+
 #.rst:
 #
 # Enables code coverage by appending corresponding compiler flags.
diff --git a/modules/custom_color_messages.cmake b/modules/custom_color_messages.cmake
index 87de6b5..fda4de5 100644
--- a/modules/custom_color_messages.cmake
+++ b/modules/custom_color_messages.cmake
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# (c) https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/AUTHORS.md
+# licensed under BSD-3: https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/LICENSE
+
 #.rst:
 #
 # Colorize CMake output.
diff --git a/modules/cxx.cmake b/modules/cxx.cmake
index 3c2c612..faa07d0 100644
--- a/modules/cxx.cmake
+++ b/modules/cxx.cmake
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# (c) https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/AUTHORS.md
+# licensed under BSD-3: https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/LICENSE
+
 #.rst:
 #
 # Adds C++ support.
diff --git a/modules/default_build_paths.cmake b/modules/default_build_paths.cmake
index ec50c99..c488407 100644
--- a/modules/default_build_paths.cmake
+++ b/modules/default_build_paths.cmake
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# (c) https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/AUTHORS.md
+# licensed under BSD-3: https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/LICENSE
+
 #.rst:
 #
 # Sets binary and library output directories to ${PROJECT_BINARY_DIR}/bin
diff --git a/modules/definitions.cmake b/modules/definitions.cmake
index 23e5fc2..6f38e2b 100644
--- a/modules/definitions.cmake
+++ b/modules/definitions.cmake
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# (c) https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/AUTHORS.md
+# licensed under BSD-3: https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/LICENSE
+
 #.rst:
 #
 # Add preprocessor definitions (example: --add-definitions="-DTHIS -DTHAT=137").
diff --git a/modules/export_header.cmake b/modules/export_header.cmake
index 9eac395..9072554 100644
--- a/modules/export_header.cmake
+++ b/modules/export_header.cmake
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# (c) https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/AUTHORS.md
+# licensed under BSD-3: https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/LICENSE
+
 #.rst:
 #
 # Generates export header for your API using best practices.
diff --git a/modules/fc.cmake b/modules/fc.cmake
index 22f6d58..ed1d010 100644
--- a/modules/fc.cmake
+++ b/modules/fc.cmake
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# (c) https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/AUTHORS.md
+# licensed under BSD-3: https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/LICENSE
+
 #.rst:
 #
 # Adds Fortran support.
diff --git a/modules/fc_optional.cmake b/modules/fc_optional.cmake
index 2095cc4..5af2002 100644
--- a/modules/fc_optional.cmake
+++ b/modules/fc_optional.cmake
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# (c) https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/AUTHORS.md
+# licensed under BSD-3: https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/LICENSE
+
 #.rst:
 #
 # Adds optional Fortran support.
diff --git a/modules/find/find_include_files.cmake b/modules/find/find_include_files.cmake
index 2ef99b9..629df49 100644
--- a/modules/find/find_include_files.cmake
+++ b/modules/find/find_include_files.cmake
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# (c) https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/AUTHORS.md
+# licensed under BSD-3: https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/LICENSE
+
 include(CheckIncludeFile)
 
 function(_find_include_dir _names _hints _result)
diff --git a/modules/find/find_libraries.cmake b/modules/find/find_libraries.cmake
index 3b060a0..1d9c980 100644
--- a/modules/find/find_libraries.cmake
+++ b/modules/find/find_libraries.cmake
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# (c) https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/AUTHORS.md
+# licensed under BSD-3: https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/LICENSE
+
 include(CheckFunctionExists)
 
 function(_find_library _names _check_function _result)
diff --git a/modules/git_info/git_info.cmake b/modules/git_info/git_info.cmake
index 6520c5a..6fa3f96 100644
--- a/modules/git_info/git_info.cmake
+++ b/modules/git_info/git_info.cmake
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# (c) https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/AUTHORS.md
+# licensed under BSD-3: https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/LICENSE
+
 #.rst:
 #
 # Creates git_info.h in the build directory.
diff --git a/modules/googletest.cmake b/modules/googletest.cmake
index 353acaf..ab167b0 100644
--- a/modules/googletest.cmake
+++ b/modules/googletest.cmake
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# (c) https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/AUTHORS.md
+# licensed under BSD-3: https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/LICENSE
+
 #.rst:
 #
 # Includes Google Test sources and adds a library "googletest".
diff --git a/modules/int64.cmake b/modules/int64.cmake
index b8847fa..38b2aae 100644
--- a/modules/int64.cmake
+++ b/modules/int64.cmake
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# (c) https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/AUTHORS.md
+# licensed under BSD-3: https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/LICENSE
+
 #.rst:
 #
 # Enables 64-bit integer support for Fortran projects.
diff --git a/modules/math/accelerate.cmake b/modules/math/accelerate.cmake
index 9483e5a..e6daaa4 100644
--- a/modules/math/accelerate.cmake
+++ b/modules/math/accelerate.cmake
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# (c) https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/AUTHORS.md
+# licensed under BSD-3: https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/LICENSE
+
 #.rst:
 #
 # Find and link to ACCELERATE.
diff --git a/modules/math/acml.cmake b/modules/math/acml.cmake
index e5c230d..2efabcb 100644
--- a/modules/math/acml.cmake
+++ b/modules/math/acml.cmake
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# (c) https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/AUTHORS.md
+# licensed under BSD-3: https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/LICENSE
+
 #.rst:
 #
 # Find and link to ACML.
diff --git a/modules/math/atlas.cmake b/modules/math/atlas.cmake
index 23565fa..1e13b06 100644
--- a/modules/math/atlas.cmake
+++ b/modules/math/atlas.cmake
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# (c) https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/AUTHORS.md
+# licensed under BSD-3: https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/LICENSE
+
 #.rst:
 #
 # Find and link to ATLAS.
diff --git a/modules/math/blas.cmake b/modules/math/blas.cmake
index 9014fb7..7ca3280 100644
--- a/modules/math/blas.cmake
+++ b/modules/math/blas.cmake
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# (c) https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/AUTHORS.md
+# licensed under BSD-3: https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/LICENSE
+
 #.rst:
 #
 # Find and link to BLAS.
diff --git a/modules/math/cblas.cmake b/modules/math/cblas.cmake
index 86fa49f..16c4382 100644
--- a/modules/math/cblas.cmake
+++ b/modules/math/cblas.cmake
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# (c) https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/AUTHORS.md
+# licensed under BSD-3: https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/LICENSE
+
 #.rst:
 #
 # Find and link to CBLAS.
diff --git a/modules/math/goto.cmake b/modules/math/goto.cmake
index 9d5586e..019c918 100644
--- a/modules/math/goto.cmake
+++ b/modules/math/goto.cmake
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# (c) https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/AUTHORS.md
+# licensed under BSD-3: https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/LICENSE
+
 #.rst:
 #
 # Find and link to Goto BLAS.
diff --git a/modules/math/lapack.cmake b/modules/math/lapack.cmake
index 7f3ac52..6bb376c 100644
--- a/modules/math/lapack.cmake
+++ b/modules/math/lapack.cmake
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# (c) https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/AUTHORS.md
+# licensed under BSD-3: https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/LICENSE
+
 #.rst:
 #
 # Find and link to LAPACK.
diff --git a/modules/math/lapacke.cmake b/modules/math/lapacke.cmake
index 8b89044..d219089 100644
--- a/modules/math/lapacke.cmake
+++ b/modules/math/lapacke.cmake
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# (c) https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/AUTHORS.md
+# licensed under BSD-3: https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/LICENSE
+
 #.rst:
 #
 # Find and link to LAPACKE.
diff --git a/modules/math_libs.cmake b/modules/math_libs.cmake
index 6042e6e..0cff139 100644
--- a/modules/math_libs.cmake
+++ b/modules/math_libs.cmake
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# (c) https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/AUTHORS.md
+# licensed under BSD-3: https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/LICENSE
+
 #.rst:
 #
 # Detects and links to BLAS and LAPACK libraries.
diff --git a/modules/mpi.cmake b/modules/mpi.cmake
index 418975e..ec66ec9 100644
--- a/modules/mpi.cmake
+++ b/modules/mpi.cmake
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# (c) https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/AUTHORS.md
+# licensed under BSD-3: https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/LICENSE
+
 #.rst:
 #
 # Enables MPI support.
diff --git a/modules/omp.cmake b/modules/omp.cmake
index f33dd91..ed32d0a 100644
--- a/modules/omp.cmake
+++ b/modules/omp.cmake
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# (c) https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/AUTHORS.md
+# licensed under BSD-3: https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/LICENSE
+
 #.rst:
 #
 # Enables OpenMP support.
diff --git a/modules/profile.cmake b/modules/profile.cmake
index 14a8cca..dfad704 100644
--- a/modules/profile.cmake
+++ b/modules/profile.cmake
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# (c) https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/AUTHORS.md
+# licensed under BSD-3: https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/LICENSE
+
 #.rst:
 #
 # Enable profiling by appending corresponding compiler flags.
diff --git a/modules/python_interpreter.cmake b/modules/python_interpreter.cmake
index 6d200ef..cab4781 100644
--- a/modules/python_interpreter.cmake
+++ b/modules/python_interpreter.cmake
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# (c) https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/AUTHORS.md
+# licensed under BSD-3: https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/LICENSE
+
 #.rst:
 #
 # Detects Python interpreter.
diff --git a/modules/python_libs.cmake b/modules/python_libs.cmake
index d4e7b81..3f68627 100644
--- a/modules/python_libs.cmake
+++ b/modules/python_libs.cmake
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# (c) https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/AUTHORS.md
+# licensed under BSD-3: https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/LICENSE
+
 #.rst:
 #
 # Detects Python libraries and headers.
diff --git a/modules/safeguards.cmake b/modules/safeguards.cmake
index a613896..1aca842 100644
--- a/modules/safeguards.cmake
+++ b/modules/safeguards.cmake
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# (c) https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/AUTHORS.md
+# licensed under BSD-3: https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/LICENSE
+
 #.rst:
 #
 # Provides safeguards against in-source builds and bad build types.
diff --git a/modules/save_flags.cmake b/modules/save_flags.cmake
index d3dd677..f57c852 100644
--- a/modules/save_flags.cmake
+++ b/modules/save_flags.cmake
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# (c) https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/AUTHORS.md
+# licensed under BSD-3: https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/LICENSE
+
 #.rst:
 #
 # Take care of updating the cache for fresh configurations.
diff --git a/modules/src.cmake b/modules/src.cmake
index 1abaddf..7ff22da 100644
--- a/modules/src.cmake
+++ b/modules/src.cmake
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# (c) https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/AUTHORS.md
+# licensed under BSD-3: https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/LICENSE
+
 #.rst:
 #
 # Adds ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/src as subdirectory containing CMakeLists.txt.
diff --git a/modules/version.cmake b/modules/version.cmake
index 518cfab..643d1e9 100644
--- a/modules/version.cmake
+++ b/modules/version.cmake
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# (c) https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/AUTHORS.md
+# licensed under BSD-3: https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/blob/master/LICENSE
+
 #.rst:
 #
 # Determine program version from file "VERSION" (example: "14.1")
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index 35fd7f8..4d214d3 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
-pep8
+pycodestyle
 pytest
 pyyaml
diff --git a/update.py b/update.py
index ae0c2ad..66ad713 100644
--- a/update.py
+++ b/update.py
@@ -12,10 +12,20 @@ if sys.version_info[0] == 2 and sys.version_info[1] < 7:
 AUTOCMAKE_GITHUB_URL = 'https://github.com/coderefinery/autocmake/raw/master/'
 
 
+def licensing_info():
+    return '''The CMake infrastructure for this project is generated using [Autocmake]
+by Radovan Bast, Roberto Di Remigio, Jonas Juselius and contributors.
+The `update.py` Python script and the contents of the directories `autocmake` and `downloaded` are licensed
+under the terms of the [BSD-3-Clause license], unless otherwise stated.
+
+[Autocmake]: http://autocmake.org
+[BSD-3-Clause license]: https://tldrlegal.com/license/bsd-3-clause-license-(revised)'''
+
+
 def check_for_yaml():
     try:
         import yaml
-    except:
+    except ImportError:
         sys.stderr.write("ERROR: you need to install the pyyaml package\n")
         sys.exit(-1)
 
@@ -257,6 +267,10 @@ def main(argv):
                 src='{0}{1}'.format(AUTOCMAKE_GITHUB_URL, f),
                 dst='{0}'.format(f)
             )
+        # finally create a README.md with licensing information
+        with open('README.md', 'w') as f:
+            print('- generating licensing information')
+            f.write(licensing_info())
         sys.exit(0)
 
     process_yaml(argv)