diff --git a/PUBLIC_RELEASE_CHECKLIST.md b/PUBLIC_RELEASE_CHECKLIST.md
index cfc84bd..e06e725 100644
--- a/PUBLIC_RELEASE_CHECKLIST.md
+++ b/PUBLIC_RELEASE_CHECKLIST.md
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 
 Complete these items while the repository is still private:
 
-- [ ] Choose a license for the original code and add it as `LICENSE`.
 - [ ] Rotate the bearer token that was previously embedded in the application and
       deployment configuration.
 - [x] Rewrite Git history to remove the old bearer token and application PIN,
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 3a00d0d..54ceb3e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -93,10 +93,3 @@ release; the workflow derives the user-visible version from the tag.
 Treat the bearer token as a password. The server provides a single shared token,
 not per-user accounts or authorization scopes, and should not be exposed directly
 to the internet without HTTPS and appropriate network controls.
-
-## Licensing
-
-Third-party licenses and attributions are recorded in
-[`THIRD_PARTY_NOTICES.md`](THIRD_PARTY_NOTICES.md). No license has yet been granted
-for the repository's original code; choose and add one before announcing the
-project as open source.