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+<div align="center">
+  <br/>
+  <p>
+    <img src="web/static/favicon.png" title="cobalt" alt="cobalt logo" width="100" />
+  </p>
+  <p>
+    Best way to save what you love<br/>
+    <a href="https://cobalt.tools">cobalt.tools</a>
+  </p>
+  <p>
+    <a href="https://discord.gg/pQPt8HBUPu">💬 Community Discord Server</a><br/>
+    <a href="https://x.com/justusecobalt">🐦 Twitter</a> &nbsp;&nbsp;
+    <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/cobalt.tools">🦋 Bluesky</a>
+  </p>
+  <br/>
+</div>
+
+cobalt is a media downloader that doesn't piss you off. It's friendly, efficient, and doesn't have ads, trackers, paywalls, or other nonsense.
+
+Paste the link, get the file, move on. That simple — just how it should be.
+
+### cobalt monorepo
+
+This monorepo includes source code for API, frontend, and related packages:
+
+- [API tree & README](/api/)
+- [Web tree & README](/web/)
+- [Packages tree](/packages/)
+
+It also includes documentation in the [docs tree](/docs/):
+
+- [How to run a cobalt instance](/docs/run-an-instance.md)
+- [How to protect a cobalt instance](/docs/protect-an-instance.md)
+- [Cobalt API instance environment variables](/docs/api-env-variables.md)
+- [Cobalt API documentation](/docs/api.md)
+
+### ethics
+
+Cobalt is a tool that makes downloading public content easier. It takes **zero liability**.  
+The end user is responsible for what they download, how they use, and distribute that content.  
+Cobalt never caches any content; it [works like a fancy proxy](/api/src/stream/).
+
+Cobalt is in no way a piracy tool and cannot be used as such.  
+It can only download free and publicly accessible content.  
+The same content can be downloaded via dev tools of any modern web browser.
+
+### contributing
+
+If you're considering contributing to cobalt, first of all, thank you!  
+Please check the [contribution guidelines here](/CONTRIBUTING.md) before getting started — they'll help you do your best right away.
+
+### thank you
+
+Cobalt is sponsored by [royalehosting.net](https://royalehosting.net/?partner=cobalt).  
+A part of our infrastructure is hosted on their network. We really appreciate their kindness and support!
+
+### licenses
+
+For relevant licensing information, see the [API](api/README.md) and [Web](web/README.md) READMEs.  
+Unless specified otherwise, the remainder of this repository is licensed under [AGPL-3.0](LICENSE).