diff --git a/.claude/settings.json b/.claude/settings.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ff83f3e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.claude/settings.json
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+{
+  "attribution": {
+    "commit": "Tool-Used: Claude Code (Anthropic)",
+    "pr": "Tooling assistance: Claude Code (Anthropic)."
+  }
+}
diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e5a0a73
--- /dev/null
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+# Contributor attribution
+
+Hydra is Cuzzo's (Tcuzzo's) project, developed with BACKS AIOS. Credit the human
+contributor for authorship and BACKS AIOS as the development platform.
+
+- Codex/OpenAI, Claude/Anthropic, other models, coding assistants, and generators
+  receive tool credit only. Do not put them in author or co-author fields,
+  `Co-Authored-By:` trailers, or copyright notices.
+- Record only tools actually used, in plain provenance text or a `Tool-Used:`
+  trailer. Do not fabricate model names, versions, or contribution claims.
+- Keep legitimate human contributor credits, including existing Matt Pocock skill
+  scaffold credits. Preserve upstream skill authors, source links, copyright
+  notices, and license terms; tool-credit rules do not erase borrowed-source credit.
+- Before opening a pull request, inspect its new commit messages and description
+  for accidental model co-author footers. Correct new unpublished messages when
+  needed. Do not rewrite published history as part of an ordinary pull request.
+
+See [PROVENANCE.md](PROVENANCE.md#project-and-tool-credit) for the credit policy.
diff --git a/PROVENANCE.md b/PROVENANCE.md
index ddb84b3..d68b015 100644
--- a/PROVENANCE.md
+++ b/PROVENANCE.md
@@ -6,6 +6,33 @@ coding-agent core only: no private orchestration methodology, no media/studio
 pipelines, no multi-machine swarm, and no operator-private infrastructure, identity,
 or secrets.
 
+## Project and tool credit
+
+Hydra is Cuzzo's (Tcuzzo's) project, developed with BACKS AIOS. Credit Cuzzo for
+project authorship and BACKS AIOS as the development platform. Human contributors
+receive credit for their actual contributions.
+
+Codex (OpenAI), Claude/Claude Code (Anthropic), and other models or coding
+assistants receive **tool credit only**. They are tools used within AIOS, not
+project authors or co-authors. Record the tools actually used in plain provenance
+text or a `Tool-Used:` commit trailer; do not add model or vendor identities to
+`Co-Authored-By:`, author lists, or copyright notices. This policy applies to every
+model family and provider.
+
+Original skill creators retain credit for their work. This includes the existing
+Matt Pocock scaffold credits in the skill library and the upstream creators of
+other incorporated skills. Preserve their source links, notices, and licenses.
+Attribution to an upstream publisher such as Anthropic for actual borrowed skill
+content is source attribution; it does not give Claude or Anthropic co-authorship
+of Hydra. See [the full-stack workflow](docs/FULLSTACK-WORKFLOW.md#provenance-and-limits)
+for the separately installable skill pack's sources and licenses.
+
+The repository's [Claude Code settings](.claude/settings.json) replace its default
+co-author footer with tool credit in future commits and pull requests. All coding
+assistants should follow [AGENTS.md](AGENTS.md). Historical model co-author trailers
+predating this policy describe tool use and do not confer project authorship.
+Changing these files does not remove those trailers from existing Git history.
+
 ## Original fingerprint
 
 The private original was hashed at extraction time so this public edition can be
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9df9dd4..eef9b80 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 
 Hydra is a coding and operations agent that runs from your terminal. Give it a repository and a goal: it can explore files, make edits, run commands, check its work, and keep useful context between sessions. Use a local model, connect a cloud service, or mix providers for different tasks.
 
+**Created by Cuzzo (Tcuzzo) with BACKS AIOS.** Models and coding assistants are tools used within AIOS. [Project and skill credits](PROVENANCE.md#project-and-tool-credit).
+
 Python 3.11+ · Linux, macOS, Windows · [MIT](LICENSE.md)
 
 [Get started](#get-started) · [Choose your models](#choose-your-models) · [Needle and Laya](#needle-and-laya) · [Training](docs/TRAINING.md) · [Command reference](docs/CLI-REFERENCE.md)
diff --git a/hydra/schemes/bundles/code-review/create-comprehensive-security/SKILL.md b/hydra/schemes/bundles/code-review/create-comprehensive-security/SKILL.md
index 0415a34..375c329 100644
--- a/hydra/schemes/bundles/code-review/create-comprehensive-security/SKILL.md
+++ b/hydra/schemes/bundles/code-review/create-comprehensive-security/SKILL.md
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ metadata:
     - linux
     - darwin
     tier: workspace
-    authored_by: auto-skill-generator
+    generated_by: auto-skill-generator
     generated_at: 2026-05-27 06:14:10 UTC
     source_task: task-9f8ab3cbdfc9
     confidence: 0.9