diff --git a/.pre-commit-hooks.yaml b/.pre-commit-hooks.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4264680
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.pre-commit-hooks.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+#
+# This code is Copyright (C) <year> The Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre
+# (CCDC) of 12 Union Road, Cambridge CB2 1EZ, UK and a proprietary work of CCDC.
+# This code may not be used, reproduced, translated, modified, disassembled or
+# copied, except in accordance with a valid licence agreement with CCDC and may
+# not be disclosed or redistributed in any form, either in whole or in part, to
+# any third party. All copies of this code made in accordance with a valid
+# licence agreement as referred to above must contain this copyright notice.
+#
+# No representations, warranties, or liabilities are expressed or implied in the
+# supply of this code by CCDC, its servants or agents, except where such
+# exclusion or limitation is prohibited, void or unenforceable under governing
+# law.
+#
+- id: ccdc-copywrite-check
+  name: CCDC Copywrite header check
+  entry: main/hooks/copywrite_check.sh
+  language: python
+  pass_filenames: false
+  additional_dependencies: 
+   - copywrite==1.1.3
+
+- id: ccdc-copywrite-fix
+  name: CCDC Copywrite header fix
+  entry: main/hooks/copywrite_fix.sh
+  language: python
+  pass_filenames: false
+  stages: [manual]
+  additional_dependencies: 
+  - copywrite==1.1.3
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/action.yml b/action.yml
index 3d7bbd1..3014725 100644
--- a/action.yml
+++ b/action.yml
@@ -1,3 +1,17 @@
+#
+# This code is Copyright (C) 2026 The Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre
+# (CCDC) of 12 Union Road, Cambridge CB2 1EZ, UK and a proprietary work of CCDC.
+# This code may not be used, reproduced, translated, modified, disassembled or
+# copied, except in accordance with a valid licence agreement with CCDC and may
+# not be disclosed or redistributed in any form, either in whole or in part, to
+# any third party. All copies of this code made in accordance with a valid
+# licence agreement as referred to above must contain this copyright notice.
+#
+# No representations, warranties, or liabilities are expressed or implied in the
+# supply of this code by CCDC, its servants or agents, except where such
+# exclusion or limitation is prohibited, void or unenforceable under governing
+# law.
+#
 name: CCDC File Checks
 author: CCDC
 description: Check changed files for compliance
@@ -8,10 +22,18 @@ inputs:
 runs:
   using: "composite"
   steps:
-    - run: python3 $GITHUB_ACTION_PATH/main.py
+    - name: Install copywrite
+      uses: hashicorp/setup-copywrite@v1.1.3
+
+    - name: Validate Header Compliance
+      run: copywrite headers --config "$GITHUB_ACTION_PATH/main/copywrite/.copywrite.hcl" --plan
+      shell: bash
+
+    - name: Run file compliance check
+      run: python3 $GITHUB_ACTION_PATH/main.py
       shell: bash
       env:
         INPUT_COMMITMESSAGE: ${{ inputs.commitMessage }}
 branding:
   icon: 'check-square'
-  color: 'green'
+  color: 'green'
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/main.py b/main.py
index ba28722..e7791db 100755
--- a/main.py
+++ b/main.py
@@ -1,4 +1,18 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python3
+#
+# This code is Copyright (C) 2026 The Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre
+# (CCDC) of 12 Union Road, Cambridge CB2 1EZ, UK and a proprietary work of CCDC.
+# This code may not be used, reproduced, translated, modified, disassembled or
+# copied, except in accordance with a valid licence agreement with CCDC and may
+# not be disclosed or redistributed in any form, either in whole or in part, to
+# any third party. All copies of this code made in accordance with a valid
+# licence agreement as referred to above must contain this copyright notice.
+#
+# No representations, warranties, or liabilities are expressed or implied in the
+# supply of this code by CCDC, its servants or agents, except where such
+# exclusion or limitation is prohibited, void or unenforceable under governing
+# law.
+#
 '''
 This is a github action entry point.
 
diff --git a/main/copywrite/.copywrite.hcl b/main/copywrite/.copywrite.hcl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8ecea19
--- /dev/null
+++ b/main/copywrite/.copywrite.hcl
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+schema_version = 1
+
+project {
+  copyright_holder = "The Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre (CCDC)"
+
+  header_ignore = [
+    ".git/**",
+    ".github/**",
+    "**/bin/**",
+    "**/obj/**",
+    "**/packages/**",
+    "**/node_modules/**",
+    "**/dist/**",
+    "**/build/**",
+    "**/.venv/**",
+    "**/venv/**",
+    "**/__pycache__/**",
+    "**/*.Designer.cs",
+    "**/*.g.cs",
+    "**/*.generated.*",
+    "**/*.min.js",
+    "**/*.lock",
+  ]
+}
+
+rule {
+  paths = ["**/*.py", "**/*.sh", "**/*.bash", "**/*.yaml", "**/*.yml"]
+  license_header = "${COPYWRITE_HOOK_ROOT}/main/copywrite/headers/ccdc_hash.tmpl"
+}
+
+rule {
+  paths = ["**/*.js", "**/*.ts", "**/*.cs", "**/*.cpp", "**/*.cxx", "**/*.cc", "**/*.h", "**/*.hpp"]
+  license_header = "${COPYWRITE_HOOK_ROOT}/main/copywrite/headers/ccdc_slash.tmpl"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/main/copywrite/headers/ccdc_hash.tmpl b/main/copywrite/headers/ccdc_hash.tmpl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b30619e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/main/copywrite/headers/ccdc_hash.tmpl
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+# START_LICENSE_TEXT
+# This code is Copyright (C) {{ .Year }} The Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre (CCDC)
+# of 12 Union Road, Cambridge CB2 1EZ, UK and a proprietary work of CCDC. This
+# code may not be used, reproduced, translated, modified, disassembled or
+# copied, except in accordance with a valid licence agreement with CCDC and
+# may NOT be disclosed or redistributed in any form, either in whole or in
+# part, to any third party. All copies of this code made in accordance with a
+# valid licence agreement as referred to above must contain this copyright
+# notice.
+#
+# No representations, warranties, or liabilities are expressed or implied in
+# the supply of this code by CCDC, its servants or agents, except where such
+# exclusion or limitation is prohibited, void or unenforceable under governing
+# law.
+# END_LICENSE_TEXT
diff --git a/main/copywrite/headers/ccdc_slash.tmpl b/main/copywrite/headers/ccdc_slash.tmpl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3671665
--- /dev/null
+++ b/main/copywrite/headers/ccdc_slash.tmpl
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+// START_LICENSE_TEXT
+// This code is Copyright (C) {{ .Year }} The Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre (CCDC)
+// of 12 Union Road, Cambridge CB2 1EZ, UK and a proprietary work of CCDC. This
+// code may not be used, reproduced, translated, modified, disassembled or
+// copied, except in accordance with a valid licence agreement with CCDC and
+// may NOT be disclosed or redistributed in any form, either in whole or in
+// part, to any third party. All copies of this code made in accordance with a
+// valid licence agreement as referred to above must contain this copyright
+// notice.
+//
+// No representations, warranties, or liabilities are expressed or implied in
+// the supply of this code by CCDC, its servants or agents, except where such
+// exclusion or limitation is prohibited, void or unenforceable under governing
+// law.
+// END_LICENSE_TEXT
diff --git a/main/hooks/copywrite_check.sh b/main/hooks/copywrite_check.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..15389bf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/main/hooks/copywrite_check.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+#
+# This code is Copyright (C) 2026 The Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre
+# (CCDC) of 12 Union Road, Cambridge CB2 1EZ, UK and a proprietary work of CCDC.
+# This code may not be used, reproduced, translated, modified, disassembled or
+# copied, except in accordance with a valid licence agreement with CCDC and may
+# not be disclosed or redistributed in any form, either in whole or in part, to
+# any third party. All copies of this code made in accordance with a valid
+# licence agreement as referred to above must contain this copyright notice.
+#
+# No representations, warranties, or liabilities are expressed or implied in the
+# supply of this code by CCDC, its servants or agents, except where such
+# exclusion or limitation is prohibited, void or unenforceable under governing
+# law.
+#
+set -euo pipefail
+command -v copywrite >/dev/null 2>&1 || { echo "copywrite not found on PATH"; exit 1; }
+
+SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
+HOOK_ROOT="$(cd "${SCRIPT_DIR}/../.." && pwd)"
+CONFIG_PATH="${HOOK_ROOT}/main/copywrite/.copywrite.hcl"
+
+export COPYWRITE_HOOK_ROOT="${HOOK_ROOT}"
+copywrite headers --config="${CONFIG_PATH}" --plan
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/main/hooks/copywrite_fix.sh b/main/hooks/copywrite_fix.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6a76d81
--- /dev/null
+++ b/main/hooks/copywrite_fix.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+#
+# This code is Copyright (C) 2026 The Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre
+# (CCDC) of 12 Union Road, Cambridge CB2 1EZ, UK and a proprietary work of CCDC.
+# This code may not be used, reproduced, translated, modified, disassembled or
+# copied, except in accordance with a valid licence agreement with CCDC and may
+# not be disclosed or redistributed in any form, either in whole or in part, to
+# any third party. All copies of this code made in accordance with a valid
+# licence agreement as referred to above must contain this copyright notice.
+#
+# No representations, warranties, or liabilities are expressed or implied in the
+# supply of this code by CCDC, its servants or agents, except where such
+# exclusion or limitation is prohibited, void or unenforceable under governing
+# law.
+#
+set -euo pipefail
+command -v copywrite >/dev/null 2>&1 || { echo "copywrite not found on PATH"; exit 1; }
+
+SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
+HOOK_ROOT="$(cd "${SCRIPT_DIR}/../.." && pwd)"
+CONFIG_PATH="${HOOK_ROOT}/main/copywrite/.copywrite.hcl"
+
+export COPYWRITE_HOOK_ROOT="${HOOK_ROOT}"
+copywrite headers --config="${CONFIG_PATH}"