1 files changed, 33 insertions, 1 deletions

diff --git a/documentation/poky-ref-manual/ref-variables.xml b/documentation/poky-ref-manual/ref-variables.xml
index ca3d87cfd2..ec1f6cbd28 100644
--- a/documentation/poky-ref-manual/ref-variables.xml
+++ b/documentation/poky-ref-manual/ref-variables.xml
@@ -1407,7 +1407,39 @@ recipes-graphics/xorg-font/font-alias_1.0.3.bb:PR = "${INC_PR}.3"
 
         <glossentry id='var-LICENSE'><glossterm>LICENSE</glossterm>
             <glossdef>
-                <para>The list of package source licenses.</para>
+                <para>
+                    The list of source licenses for the recipe.
+                    Follow these rules:
+                    <itemizedlist>
+                        <listitem><para>Do not use spaces within individual
+                            license names.</para></listitem>
+                        <listitem><para>Separate license names using 
+                            | (pipe) when there is a choice between licenses.
+                            </para></listitem>
+                        <listitem><para>Separate license names using 
+                            &amp; (ampersand) when multiple licenses exist 
+                            that cover different parts of the source. 
+                            </para></listitem>
+                        <listitem><para>You can use spaces between license 
+                            names.</para></listitem>
+                    </itemizedlist>
+                </para>
+
+                <para>
+                    Here are some examples:
+                    <literallayout class='monospaced'>
+     LICENSE = "LGPLv2.1 | GPLv3"
+     LICENSE = "MPL-1 &amp; LGPLv2.1"
+     LICENSE = "GPLv2+"
+                    </literallayout>
+                    The first example is from the recipes for Qt, which the user 
+                    may choose to distribute under either the LGPL version
+                    2.1 or GPL version 3.
+                    The second example is from Cairo where two licenses cover
+                    different parts of the source code. 
+                    The final example is from <filename>sysstat</filename>, 
+                    which presents a single license.
+                </para>
             </glossdef>
         </glossentry>