diff --git a/.cpplint b/.cpplint
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8b90d4a39
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.cpplint
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+# See:  cpplint --help  # for all options
+# Also: cpplint.py --filter=  # for all filters
+# Use - to turn off the requirement for a copyright comment
+filter=-legal/copyright
+linelength=80