diff --git a/samples/e.m b/samples/e.m
index 4ffb2033b..8cc53e38d 100644
--- a/samples/e.m
+++ b/samples/e.m
@@ -1,12 +1,11 @@
 %-----------------------------------------------------------------------------%
-% Copyright (C) 1997 The University of Melbourne.
-% This file may only be copied under the terms of the GNU General
-% Public License - see the file COPYING in the Mercury distribution.
 %-----------------------------------------------------------------------------%
 
 % File: e.m.
 % Main author: bromage.
 
+% This source file is hereby placed in the public domain.  -bromage.
+
 % Calculate the base of natural logarithms using lazy evaluation.
 
 % The algorithm is O(N^2) in the number of digits requested.
diff --git a/samples/eliza.m b/samples/eliza.m
index 102875994..c09f9a203 100644
--- a/samples/eliza.m
+++ b/samples/eliza.m
@@ -1,12 +1,11 @@
 %-----------------------------------------------------------------------------%
-% Copyright (C) 1995 The University of Melbourne.
-% This file may only be copied under the terms of the GNU General
-% Public License - see the file COPYING in the Mercury distribution.
 %-----------------------------------------------------------------------------%
 
 % File: eliza.m.
 % Main author: bromage.
 
+% This source file is hereby placed in the public domain.  -bromage.
+
 % Eliza, the famous psychotherapist.
 
 %-----------------------------------------------------------------------------%