diff --git a/src/mame/etc/template_cpu.c b/src/mame/etc/template_cpu.c
index 75535b09314..18ca0d46cc5 100644
--- a/src/mame/etc/template_cpu.c
+++ b/src/mame/etc/template_cpu.c
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-// license: ?
+// license: BSD-3-Clause
 // copyright-holders: Angelo Salese
 /*****************************************************************************
  *
diff --git a/src/mame/etc/template_cpu.h b/src/mame/etc/template_cpu.h
index 764caf01d2c..1d63a076d25 100644
--- a/src/mame/etc/template_cpu.h
+++ b/src/mame/etc/template_cpu.h
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-// license: ?
+// license: BSD-3-Clause
 // copyright-holders: Angelo Salese
 /*****************************************************************************
  *
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 
 enum
 {
-	#if 0
+	#if UNUSED
 	XXX_R0=1, XXX_R1, XXX_R2, XXX_R3,
 	XXX_R4, XXX_R5, XXX_R6, XXX_R7
 	#endif
diff --git a/src/mame/etc/template_device.c b/src/mame/etc/template_device.c
index 9c60f64c6e7..60d70bff597 100644
--- a/src/mame/etc/template_device.c
+++ b/src/mame/etc/template_device.c
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-// license: ?
+// license: BSD-3-Clause
 // copyright-holders: Angelo Salese
 /***************************************************************************
 
diff --git a/src/mame/etc/template_device.h b/src/mame/etc/template_device.h
index b6206981ed0..f081344fc6c 100644
--- a/src/mame/etc/template_device.h
+++ b/src/mame/etc/template_device.h
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-// license: ?
+// license: BSD-3-Clause
 // copyright-holders: Angelo Salese
 /***************************************************************************
 
diff --git a/src/mame/etc/template_driver.c b/src/mame/etc/template_driver.c
index 40e949366fd..a144601b3e8 100644
--- a/src/mame/etc/template_driver.c
+++ b/src/mame/etc/template_driver.c
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-// license: ?
+// license: BSD-3-Clause
 // copyright-holders: Angelo Salese
 /***************************************************************************
 
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ static MACHINE_CONFIG_START( xxx, xxx_state )
 	MCFG_SCREEN_UPDATE_DRIVER(xxx_state, screen_update)
 //  MCFG_SCREEN_SIZE(32*8, 32*8)
 //  MCFG_SCREEN_VISIBLE_AREA(0*8, 32*8-1, 0*8, 32*8-1)
-	MCFG_SCREEN_RAW_PARAMS(MAIN_CLOCK/2, 442, 0, 320, 264, 0, 240) /* generic video timing, change accordingly */
+	MCFG_SCREEN_RAW_PARAMS(MAIN_CLOCK/2, 442, 0, 320, 264, 0, 240) /* generic NTSC video timing, change accordingly */
 	MCFG_SCREEN_PALETTE("palette")
 
 	MCFG_GFXDECODE_ADD("gfxdecode", "palette", xxx)
diff --git a/src/mame/etc/template_readme.txt b/src/mame/etc/template_readme.txt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..fdbc8f8df9e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/mame/etc/template_readme.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+The template family tree is an attempt to ease the pain to write CPUs/drivers/devices 
+from scratch (especially for smaller projects). 
+
+===
+Usage:
+- Any "xxx" name is case-sensitive (i.e., XXX -> NAMEOFDEVICE, xxx -> nameofdevice);
+
+===
+License:
+Copyright (c) 2014, Angelo Salese & the MAME team
+All rights reserved.
+
+Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
+    * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+      notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+    * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+      notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
+      documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+    * Neither the name of the <organization> nor the
+      names of its contributors may be used to endorse or promote products
+      derived from this software without specific prior written permission.
+
+THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS" AND
+ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED
+WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE
+DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL <COPYRIGHT HOLDER> BE LIABLE FOR ANY
+DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES
+(INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES;
+LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND
+ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
+(INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS
+SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+
+===
+TODO:
+- Define convention for template inputs (i.e. optimal for each host);
+- Write template drivers for different endianesses;
+- Write template header for drivers;
+- Write tool program that auto-generate contents;