diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index abac9c09..d1af14ec 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ this is a work-in-progress chiptune tracker compatible with DefleMask modules (.
   - SSG envelopes in Neo Geo
   - full duty/cutoff range in C64
   - ability to change tempo mid-song with `Cxxx` effect (`xxx` between `000` and `3ff`)
-- open-source under GPLv2.
+- open-source under GPLv2 or later.
 
 ## downloads
 
@@ -186,3 +186,13 @@ that's a limitation of the DefleMask format. save in Furnace song format instead
 > how do I solo channels?
 
 right click on the channel name.
+
+# footnotes
+
+copyright (C) 2021-2022 tildearrow and contributors.
+
+This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+
+This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
diff --git a/src/gui/gui.cpp b/src/gui/gui.cpp
index 401651d3..9708a235 100644
--- a/src/gui/gui.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/gui.cpp
@@ -3504,8 +3504,8 @@ const char* aboutLine[57]={
   "all members of Deflers of Noice!",
   "",
   "copyright © 2021-2022 tildearrow.",
-  "licensed under GPLv2! see",
-  "LICENSE.txt for more information.",
+  "licensed under GPLv2+! see",
+  "LICENSE for more information.",
   "",
   "help Furnace grow:",
   "https://github.com/tildearrow/furnace",
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index d994255f..f5e3078f 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-#include <exception>
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <stdint.h>
 #include <string>
@@ -108,8 +107,8 @@ bool pLogLevel(String val) {
 
 bool pVersion(String) {
   printf("Furnace version " DIV_VERSION ".\n\n");
-  printf("developed by tildearrow. copyright (C) 2021-2022.\n");
-  printf("licensed under the GNU General Public License version 2\n");
+  printf("copyright (C) 2021-2022 tildearrow and contributors.\n");
+  printf("licensed under the GNU General Public License version 2 or later\n");
   printf("<https://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/gpl-2.0.html>.\n\n");
   printf("this is free software with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY.\n");
   printf("pass the -warranty parameter for more information.\n\n");