diff --git a/docs/docsite/rst/dev_guide/developing_modules_documenting.rst b/docs/docsite/rst/dev_guide/developing_modules_documenting.rst
index 4507624fd4a..4667ff6e8a8 100644
--- a/docs/docsite/rst/dev_guide/developing_modules_documenting.rst
+++ b/docs/docsite/rst/dev_guide/developing_modules_documenting.rst
@@ -14,11 +14,12 @@ syntax highlighting before you include it in your Python file.
 
 All modules must have the following sections defined in this order:
 
-1. ANSIBLE_METADATA
-2. DOCUMENTATION
-3. EXAMPLES
-4. RETURNS
-5. Python imports
+1. Copyright
+2. ANSIBLE_METADATA
+3. DOCUMENTATION
+4. EXAMPLES
+5. RETURNS
+6. Python imports
 
 .. note:: Why don't the imports go first?
 
@@ -30,6 +31,41 @@ All modules must have the following sections defined in this order:
 
 
 
+Copyright
+----------------------
+
+The beginning of every module should look about the same. After the shebang,
+there should be at least two lines covering copyright and licensing of the
+code.
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+    #!/usr/bin/python
+    # Copyright (c) 2017 Ansible Project
+    # GNU General Public License v3.0+ (see COPYING or https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.txt)
+
+Every file should have a copyright line with the original copyright holder.
+Major additions to the module (for instance, rewrites)  may add additional
+copyright lines. Code from the Ansible community should typically be assigned
+as "Copyright (c) 2017 Ansible Project" which covers all contributors. Any
+legal questions need to review the source control history, so an exhaustive
+copyright header is not necessary.
+
+The license declaration should be ONLY one line, not the full GPL prefix. If
+you notice a module with the full prefix, feel free to switch it to the
+one-line declaration instead.
+
+When adding a copyright line after completing a significant feature or rewrite,
+add the newer line above the older one, like so:
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+    #!/usr/bin/python
+    # Copyright (c) 2017 [New Contributor(s)]
+    # Copyright (c) 2015 [Original Contributor(s)]
+    # GNU General Public License v3.0+ (see COPYING or https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.txt)
+
+
 ANSIBLE_METADATA Block
 ----------------------
 
@@ -116,7 +152,8 @@ Include it in your module file like this:
 .. code-block:: python
 
     #!/usr/bin/python
-    # Copyright header....
+    # Copyright (c) 2017 [REPLACE THIS]
+    # GNU General Public License v3.0+ (see COPYING or https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.txt)
 
     DOCUMENTATION = '''
     ---
@@ -126,6 +163,8 @@ Include it in your module file like this:
     '''
 
 
+
+
 The following fields can be used and are all required unless specified otherwise:
 
 :module: