@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ below and to the page that documents the feature properly.
 
 | Version | What changed | Documented in |
 |---|---|---|
+| [2.18.0](#v2180) | AI disclosure policy: three rules, and the correction written for you | [Policy guides](guides/policies.md#asking-for-disclosure-instead) · [CC014](rules.md#cc014) |
 | [2.17.0](#v2170) | Concrete corrections for mechanical slips; a `warn` level per rule | [Reading the JSON](example.md#reading-the-json) · [Report without enforcing](configuration.md#report-a-rule-without-enforcing-it) |
 | [2.16.0](#v2160) | Tag name validation, and file size, path and pattern policies | [CC401](rules.md#cc401) · [CC302–CC304](rules.md#push-rules) |
 | [2.15.1](#v2151) | Color and rule-ID links appear only where they render; `NO_COLOR` honoured | [Color and links](example.md#color-and-links) |
@@ -28,6 +29,77 @@ below and to the page that documents the feature properly.
 | [2.5.0](#v250) | Organization-wide config with `inherit_from` | [Across an organization](guides/organization.md) |
 | [2.0.0](#v200) | Configuration moved from YAML to TOML — breaking | [Migrating from v1](migration.md) |
 
+## v2.18.0 (2026-09-13) { #v2180 }
+
+### Added
+
+* **AI attribution gained a third policy, `"disclose"`** — for the projects
+  that welcome AI assistance and ask to be told about it. It turns on three
+  rules, one per condition, so any of them can be demoted to a warning while
+  the others keep enforcing: the assistance is disclosed with one of
+  `ai_disclosure_trailers` ([CC014](rules.md#cc014), default `Assisted-by`
+  and `Generated-by`), the tool is not credited as a co-author
+  ([CC015](rules.md#cc015)), and it did not sign off the commit
+  ([CC016](rules.md#cc016)) — a sign-off certifies the DCO, which only a
+  person can do. A failing check carries the correction: the vendor's
+  co-author line rewritten as the project's disclosure trailer, keeping the
+  name the tool gave itself. `ai_disclosure_pattern` asks for a particular
+  format, such as `agent/model`. The default stays `"ignore"`, and an
+  `ai_attribution` value that is none of the three is now a configuration
+  error rather than a silently disabled check.
+  See PR [#575](https://github.com/commit-check/commit-check/pull/575) and
+  [Asking for disclosure instead](guides/policies.md#asking-for-disclosure-instead).
+
+* **A failed check names the value it rejected, and by how much** — a long
+  subject reports `Subject is 96 characters; it must be at most 80
+  characters` and how many to cut, a custom `message_pattern` is echoed back,
+  and the rejection banner says whether it was the commit, the branch, the
+  tag or the push that was rejected.
+  See PR [#571](https://github.com/commit-check/commit-check/pull/571).
+
+* **A specification named in an error links to it** on terminals that render
+  hyperlinks, so `Conventional Commits` and `Conventional Branch` are
+  clickable instead of trailing a URL. Piped output is unchanged.
+  See PR [#568](https://github.com/commit-check/commit-check/pull/568).
+
+### Changed
+
+* **`ai_attribution = "forbid"` now recognises the disclosure trailers too.**
+  `Assisted-by:` and `Generated-by:`, in the formats the Linux kernel, Fedora,
+  FluxCD and the ASF actually write them, are AI attribution like any other —
+  a project that forbids attribution was letting them through.
+  See PR [#575](https://github.com/commit-check/commit-check/pull/575) and
+  [CC013](rules.md#cc013).
+
+### Fixed
+
+* **[CC201](rules.md#cc201) anchors a branch name at both ends** — `main-backup`,
+  `master2` and `develop-x` passed as if they were `main`, `master` and
+  `develop`. They fail now.
+  See PR [#569](https://github.com/commit-check/commit-check/pull/569).
+
+* **[CC001](rules.md#cc001) exempts only the subjects git writes itself** —
+  `Merge `, `Revert "`, `fixup! `, `squash! ` and `amend! `. Author prose that
+  merely started that way, such as `Merged stuff` or `fixup!! nonsense`, was
+  exempt too.
+  See PR [#569](https://github.com/commit-check/commit-check/pull/569).
+
+* **A setting whose regex does not compile names the setting** and exits `2`,
+  the code for a broken configuration: `[commit] message_pattern is not a
+  valid regex: '^(unclosed'`. It used to surface as a bare Python error with
+  exit code `1`, the code a rejected commit gets.
+  See PR [#574](https://github.com/commit-check/commit-check/pull/574) and
+  [Exit codes](troubleshoot.md#exit-codes).
+
+* **A configuration error exits `2` and names the file it came from**, and
+  `--dry-run` runs the checks it was asked for instead of printing nothing
+  and exiting `0`.
+  See PR [#570](https://github.com/commit-check/commit-check/pull/570).
+
+* **An `inherit_from` that cannot be loaded says so on stderr** instead of
+  falling back to the local config in silence. The run still continues.
+  See PR [#569](https://github.com/commit-check/commit-check/pull/569).
+
 ## v2.17.0 (2026-09-06) { #v2170 }
 
 ### Added
 
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ allow_fixup_commits = true
 allow_wip_commits = false          # changed: allowed by default
 require_body = false
 require_signed_off_by = false
-ai_attribution = "forbid"          # changed: "ignore" by default
+ai_attribution = "disclose"        # changed: "ignore" by default; see the AI policy guide
 # ignore_authors = []              # optional: bypass all commit checks for these authors
 
 [push]
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ Used from a hook definition, with no config file anywhere in the repository:
 ```yaml title=".pre-commit-config.yaml"
 repos:
   - repo: https://github.com/commit-check/commit-check
-    rev: v2.17.0
+    rev: v2.18.0
     hooks:
       - id: check-message
         args:
@@ -288,6 +288,8 @@ The full mapping between the three forms:
 | `require_rebase_target = "main"` | `CCHK_REQUIRE_REBASE_TARGET=main` | `--require-rebase-target=main` |
 | `allow_force_push = true` | `CCHK_ALLOW_FORCE_PUSH=true` | `--no-force-push` (sets `allow_force_push` to `false`) |
 | `ai_attribution = "forbid"` | `CCHK_AI_ATTRIBUTION=forbid` | `--ai-attribution=forbid` |
+| `ai_disclosure_trailers = ["Assisted-by"]` | `CCHK_AI_DISCLOSURE_TRAILERS=Assisted-by` | `--ai-disclosure-trailers=Assisted-by` |
+| `ai_disclosure_pattern = '^\S+/\S+$'` | `CCHK_AI_DISCLOSURE_PATTERN=^\S+/\S+$` | `--ai-disclosure-pattern='^\S+/\S+$'` |
 | `ignore_authors = ["bot"]` (in branch section) | `CCHK_BRANCH_IGNORE_AUTHORS=bot,user` | `--branch-ignore-authors=bot,user` |
 | `regex = "^v\\d+\\.\\d+\\.\\d+$"` (in tag section) | `CCHK_TAG_REGEX=^v\\d+\\.\\d+\\.\\d+$` | `--tag-regex=^v\\d+\\.\\d+\\.\\d+$` |
 | `max_size = "5MB"` (in files section) | `CCHK_FILES_MAX_SIZE=5MB` | `--files-max-size=5MB` |
@@ -344,7 +346,9 @@ the same thing twice, so read the description rather than the cell:
 | commit | author_email_pattern | str | `^.+@.+$` | Custom regex for the author email check. When empty, the built-in default pattern is used. This option only takes effect when the author_email check is enabled (`-e` / `--author-email`). |
 | commit | author_name_pattern | str | "" (built-in default) | Custom regex for the author name check. When empty, the built-in default pattern is used (it is not disabled). This option only takes effect when the author_name check is enabled (`-n` / `--author-name`). |
 | commit | require_signed_off_by | bool | false | Require "Signed-off-by" line in the commit message footer. |
-| commit | ai_attribution | str | "ignore" | AI attribution policy. `"forbid"` rejects any commit containing known AI tool signatures (Claude Code, Copilot, Codex, Gemini, Cursor, Devin, Aider, Windsurf, Tabby, and generic AI model patterns). `"ignore"` disables the check. This feature is a response to the industry-wide discussion on AI disclosure in open source (Linux kernel `Assisted-by:` trailer, CPython, VS Code, Apache, Fedora policies). |
+| commit | ai_attribution | str | "ignore" | AI attribution policy. `"forbid"` rejects any commit carrying AI attribution — a co-author or sign-off line naming a known tool, a disclosure trailer, a vendor mark ([CC013](rules.md#cc013)). `"disclose"` accepts AI assistance that is disclosed with one of `ai_disclosure_trailers` ([CC014](rules.md#cc014)) and rejects the tool as a co-author ([CC015](rules.md#cc015)) or as a sign-off ([CC016](rules.md#cc016)). `"ignore"` disables the check. Any other value is a configuration error. |
+| commit | ai_disclosure_trailers | list[str] | ["Assisted-by", "Generated-by"] | The trailers that disclose AI assistance under `"disclose"`. The first one is what a correction is written with. Listing `Co-authored-by` says the project accepts the tool as a co-author, and CC015 then passes. `Signed-off-by` is refused: only a person can certify the DCO. |
+| commit | ai_disclosure_pattern | str | "" (any value) | A regex the disclosure trailer's value must match under `"disclose"`, e.g. `'^\S+/\S+$'` for an `agent/model` format. Empty accepts any value, but a trailer with no value at all is reported whatever the pattern is. |
 | branch | conventional_branch | bool | true | Enforce Conventional Branch specification. |
 | branch | allow_branch_types | list[str] | ["feature", "bugfix", "hotfix", "release", "chore", "feat", "fix", "build", "ci", "docs", "perf", "refactor", "style", "test", "ai", "claude", "codex", "copilot", "cursor", "dependabot", "renovate"] | Allowed branch types when `conventional_branch` is true. The default is a superset of the [Conventional Branch spec](https://conventionalbranch.org/): the spec types (`feature`, `bugfix`, `hotfix`, `release`, `chore`) plus the Conventional Commit types (`build`, `ci`, `docs`, `perf`, `refactor`, `style`, `test`), AI agent prefixes (`ai`, `claude`, `codex`, `copilot`, `cursor`) and bot prefixes (`dependabot`, `renovate`). For strict spec-only validation, set this option explicitly (e.g. `["feature", "bugfix", "hotfix", "release", "chore"]`). |
 | branch | allow_branch_names | list[str] | [] (empty list) | Additional standalone branch names allowed when conventional_branch is true (e.g., ["develop", "staging"]). By default, master, main, HEAD, and PR-* are always allowed. |
 
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ pushed:
 ```yaml title=".pre-commit-config.yaml"
 repos:
   - repo: https://github.com/commit-check/commit-check
-    rev: v2.17.0
+    rev: v2.18.0
     hooks:
       - id: check-no-force-push
         stages: [pre-push]
 
@@ -91,16 +91,19 @@ ignore_authors = ["dependabot[bot]", "renovate[bot]"]
 
 ## AI attribution
 
-AI coding tools add trailers to commit messages identifying themselves. Whether
-that is welcome, required, or unacceptable is a decision each project makes for
-itself — and the industry has landed in different places:
+AI coding tools stamp their own trailers on the commits they help with.
+Whether that is welcome, required or unacceptable is a decision each project
+makes for itself, and the industry has landed in three places — which are the
+three values `ai_attribution` takes:
 
-- The **Linux kernel** added an `Assisted-by:` trailer, treating AI assistance
-  as something to disclose.
-- **Some projects disallow AI-assisted contributions outright**, usually over
-  provenance and licensing.
-- **Most projects have no stated position**, which means the question resurfaces
-  in every code review.
+| `ai_attribution` | The project's position | Rules |
+|---|---|---|
+| `"ignore"` (default) | no stated position | — |
+| `"forbid"` | no AI attribution in the history | [CC013](../rules.md#cc013) |
+| `"disclose"` | AI is welcome, said out loud, and not credited as a person | [CC014](../rules.md#cc014)–[CC016](../rules.md#cc016) |
+
+Whichever you pick, the check reads what the message says. It cannot see
+assistance that left no trace — see the note below.
 
 ### The default: no opinion
 
@@ -122,26 +125,143 @@ ai_attribution = "forbid"
 Commits carrying a recognised AI signature now fail:
 
 ```text
-CC013 ai-attribution check failed ==> feat: add caching layer
-AI attribution policy violation
-Suggest: This project forbids AI-assisted commits. Remove AI trailers and re-commit.
+CC013 ai-attribution check failed ==> Claude Code
+AI attribution is forbidden in this project — detected: Claude Code
+Suggest: This project does not accept AI attribution in commit messages. Remove the AI trailer lines and re-commit.
 Docs: https://commit-check.com/rules/#cc013
 ```
 
-Recognised signatures are trailers and co-author lines naming Claude Code,
-GitHub Copilot, Codex, Gemini, Cursor, Devin, Aider, Windsurf and Tabby, plus
-generic AI model patterns.
+Recognised signatures are co-author and sign-off lines naming Claude Code,
+GitHub Copilot, Codex, Gemini, Cursor, Devin, Aider, Windsurf and Tabby, the
+disclosure trailers `Assisted-by:` and `Generated-by:`, vendor marks such as
+`🤖 Generated with Claude Code`, and generic AI model names. This is the
+position [Kubernetes](https://www.kubernetes.dev/docs/guide/pull-requests/)
+takes — no AI trailers in the history, disclosure in the pull request
+instead.
 
 !!! warning "This checks disclosure, not authorship"
 
-    CC013 reads commit metadata. It detects a commit that *says* it was
-    AI-assisted; it cannot detect one that was AI-assisted and did not say so.
+    These rules read commit metadata. They detect a commit that *says* it
+    was AI-assisted; they cannot detect one that was AI-assisted and did
+    not say so.
 
     Set against a policy of "no AI contributions", it is an honesty check on
     contributors who are already following the rules — not an enforcement
     mechanism against those who aren't. Be clear with yourself about which of
     those you are buying.
 
+### Asking for disclosure instead
+
+Most projects that allow AI assistance ask to be told about it. The
+[Linux kernel](https://docs.kernel.org/process/coding-assistants.html),
+[Fedora](https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/council/policy/ai-policy/) and
+FluxCD want an `Assisted-by:` trailer; the
+[Apache Software Foundation](https://www.apache.org/legal/generative-tooling.html)
+recommends `Generated-by:`. The kernel adds a second rule: an AI agent must
+never add a `Signed-off-by:` line, because only a person can certify the
+[DCO](https://developercertificate.org/).
+
+```toml title="cchk.toml"
+[commit]
+ai_attribution = "disclose"
+```
+
+That turns on three rules, each about one of those conditions:
+
+| Rule | Asks that |
+|---|---|
+| [CC014](../rules.md#cc014) | the assistance is disclosed with an accepted trailer |
+| [CC015](../rules.md#cc015) | the tool is not credited as a co-author |
+| [CC016](../rules.md#cc016) | the tool did not sign off the commit |
+
+A commit that a vendor stamped and nobody disclosed fails the first two, and
+the failure carries the disclosure already written:
+
+```text
+CC014 ai-disclosure check failed ==> Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
+AI assistance is not disclosed with Assisted-by or Generated-by — detected: Claude Code
+Suggest: Disclose the tool with "Assisted-by: Claude Opus 5"
+Docs: https://commit-check.com/rules/#cc014
+
+CC015 ai-co-author check failed ==> Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
+An AI tool is credited as a co-author: Claude Code
+Suggest: Use "Assisted-by: Claude Opus 5" in place of the co-author line
+Docs: https://commit-check.com/rules/#cc015
+```
+
+Both carry the same correction in `--format json`: the co-author line rewritten
+as the project's disclosure trailer, keeping the name the tool gave itself.
+
+```json
+"fix": "feat: add caching layer\n\nAssisted-by: Claude Opus 5"
+```
+
+Once the tool is disclosed, CC015 asks only for the co-author line to go, and
+a commit written the way the kernel asks passes all three:
+
+```bash
+printf 'feat: add caching layer\n\nAssisted-by: LLM coccinelle sparse\nSigned-off-by: Jane Dev <jane@example.com>' | commit-check -m
+```
+
+### Choosing the format
+
+`ai_disclosure_trailers` is the list of trailers that count as a disclosure,
+and the first one is what a correction is written with:
+
+```toml title="cchk.toml"
+[commit]
+ai_attribution = "disclose"
+ai_disclosure_trailers = ["Assisted-by"]   # the kernel's, and nothing else
+```
+
+Listing `Co-authored-by` says the project accepts the tool as a co-author —
+[pytest](https://github.com/pytest-dev/pytest/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.rst) and
+IREE do — and CC015 then passes. `Signed-off-by` is refused whatever else you
+list, so CC016 cannot be configured away.
+
+`ai_disclosure_pattern` asks for a particular shape, such as FluxCD's
+`agent/model`:
+
+```toml title="cchk.toml"
+[commit]
+ai_attribution = "disclose"
+ai_disclosure_pattern = '^\S+/\S+$'
+```
+
+```text
+CC014 ai-disclosure check failed ==> Assisted-by: Claude Code
+The Assisted-by value does not match the required pattern: ^\S+/\S+$
+Suggest: Write the Assisted-by value so that it matches ^\S+/\S+$ (set by ai_disclosure_pattern in the [commit] config)
+```
+
+There is no correction for that one: which model, in which format, is not
+something the tool should guess.
+
+### Disclosure that is appreciated, not required
+
+Some projects — [CPython](https://devguide.python.org/getting-started/generative-ai/)
+among them — welcome disclosure without demanding it, while still refusing the
+tool as a co-author. Put CC014 in the top-level `warn` list and the other two
+keep enforcing:
+
+```toml title="cchk.toml"
+warn = ["ai_disclosure"]
+
+[commit]
+ai_attribution = "disclose"
+```
+
+```text
+CC014 ai-disclosure check warning ==> 🤖 Generated with [Claude
+AI assistance is not disclosed with Assisted-by or Generated-by — detected: Claude Code
+Suggest: Disclose the tool with "Assisted-by: Claude Code"
+Docs: https://commit-check.com/rules/#cc014
+This rule is set to warn in the config; it does not fail the run.
+```
+
+The run still passes. See
+[Report a rule without enforcing it](../configuration.md#report-a-rule-without-enforcing-it).
+
 ### Exempting automation
 
 Bots that legitimately carry AI trailers can be excluded:
 
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ Add Commit Check to `.pre-commit-config.yaml`:
 ```yaml title=".pre-commit-config.yaml"
 repos:
   - repo: https://github.com/commit-check/commit-check
-    rev: v2.17.0
+    rev: v2.18.0
     hooks:
       - id: check-message
       - id: check-branch
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ Options can be passed as hook arguments, which keeps everything in one file:
 ```yaml title=".pre-commit-config.yaml"
 repos:
   - repo: https://github.com/commit-check/commit-check
-    rev: v2.17.0
+    rev: v2.18.0
     hooks:
       - id: check-message
         args: