diff --git a/util/merge_copyrights b/util/merge_copyrights
index 3904254947..f15bf18473 100644
--- a/util/merge_copyrights
+++ b/util/merge_copyrights
@@ -116,6 +116,8 @@ while (<CHANGES>) {
 	    $file_types{$_} = "BAT";
 	} elsif ($base =~ /\/named\.args$/i) {
 	    $file_types{$_} = "X";
+	} elsif ($base =~ /\/README$/i) {
+	    $file_types{$_} = "TXT.BRIEF";
 	} else {
 	    $file_types{$_} = "?";
 	}