diff --git a/.github/workflows/check.yml b/.github/workflows/check.yml
index 0bb9804..4e6f8ea 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/check.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/check.yml
@@ -31,3 +31,13 @@ jobs:
         uses: wordpress/plugin-check-action@v1
         with:
           plugin-repo: '.'
+          # Real slug is "tetapi" (matches the Text Domain header) — without
+          # this the action defaults to the GitHub repo directory name
+          # ("wordpress-plugin"), which also trips the trademarked-term
+          # check since "plugin" is a restricted word in real wp.org slugs.
+          slug: 'tetapi'
+          # .github/ and CLAUDE.md never ship in the wp.org submission zip
+          # (that's packaged separately in task 12.3) — exclude them here so
+          # the check reflects what actually gets submitted.
+          exclude-directories: '.git,.github'
+          exclude-files: 'CLAUDE.md'
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 3667db3..09d3903 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 # TETA+PI WordPress Plugin — Plan
 
-Task 12.1 (direction 12, wordpress). Connects a WordPress site to a TETA+PI
-entity (`api.tetapi.dev`), proves domain ownership, and displays the resulting
-trust badge. Free tier fully functional, standalone; premium ($25 one-time
-pack) is stubbed behind a license-key field for a later task.
+Task 12.1 (direction 12, wordpress), free-launch copy pass in 12.2. Connects
+a WordPress site to a TETA+PI entity (`api.tetapi.dev`), proves domain
+ownership, and displays the resulting trust badge. Launched 100% free —
+premium modules are teaser-only, unlockable solely via an owner-gifted promo
+code (no payment, see § Premium).
 
 Server-side (`teta-pi/api`, `teta-pi/web`, `teta-pi/mcp`) is untouched — this
 plugin is a pure API client using existing endpoints ([`docs/api.md`](https://github.com/teta-pi/infra/blob/main/docs/api.md),
@@ -68,15 +69,17 @@ for caching). PHP 7.4+ compatible (no enums, no readonly props, no `match`).
 | Entity picker | populated from `GET /businesses` once key is valid |
 | Domain verification status | none / pending / verified, with Start/Check buttons |
 | Badge preview | live preview of the shortcode output |
-| License key (premium) | optional field, unlocks premium sections when valid — validation stubbed (§ Premium) |
+| Redeem code (premium) | optional field, flips `Tetapi_Premium::is_licensed()` true when it matches a promo code hash — no payment, gift-only (§ Premium) |
 
-## $25 Premium Pack — proposed contents (stub only in this task)
+## Premium modules — proposed contents (teaser only, 12.2 free launch)
 
-One-time $25 purchase (Gumroad/Lemon Squeezy license key, no payment code in
-this repo — the plugin only ever *checks* a license key against a stub
-function that returns "not implemented" for now). Sold separately from the
-TETA+PI platform itself; distribution/checkout mechanics are a direction-13
-GTM decision, not built here.
+**Owner decision 2026-07-14: launched 100% free, zero payment code.** Module
+#1 ($25) and Module #2 ($52) are teased as "coming soon" in the settings page
+and `readme.txt`; neither is for sale. The only unlock path is a promo code
+the plugin owner hands out manually (e.g. as a social-media reward) — checked
+locally against a SHA-256 hash in `class-tetapi-premium.php`, no license
+server, no payment provider. Distribution/checkout mechanics for an eventual
+paid launch are a direction-13 GTM decision, not built here.
 
 1. **Badge style pack** — 5 additional badge layouts (compact pill, card with
    description, footer strip, floating corner ribbon) instead of the one free
@@ -97,11 +100,12 @@ GTM decision, not built here.
 6. **Priority badge refresh** — shorter transient TTL (near-live trust_level)
    instead of the free tier's 15-minute cache.
 
-All six are represented in this task only as disabled UI ("🔒 Coming with
-Premium — enter a license key to unlock") behind `class-tetapi-premium.php`,
-which exposes a single `Tetapi_Premium::is_licensed()` stub returning `false`.
-No license-server calls, no payment/checkout code, nothing that phones home
-beyond the existing `api.tetapi.dev` client.
+All six are represented as disabled UI ("🔒 Module #1 — $25, coming soon")
+behind `class-tetapi-premium.php`. `Tetapi_Premium::is_licensed()` stays
+false by default and only flips true if the site owner enters a code
+matching a hash in a hardcoded, owner-maintained list — no license-server
+calls, no payment/checkout code, nothing that phones home beyond the
+existing `api.tetapi.dev` client.
 
 ## Plugin Check / wp.org readiness
 
diff --git a/includes/class-tetapi-plugin.php b/includes/class-tetapi-plugin.php
index b7e8f4d..369e160 100644
--- a/includes/class-tetapi-plugin.php
+++ b/includes/class-tetapi-plugin.php
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ public static function instance() {
 	}
 
 	private function __construct() {
-		add_action( 'plugins_loaded', array( $this, 'load_textdomain' ) );
 		register_activation_hook( TETAPI_PLUGIN_FILE, array( 'Tetapi_Domain', 'activate' ) );
 		register_deactivation_hook( TETAPI_PLUGIN_FILE, array( 'Tetapi_Domain', 'deactivate' ) );
 
@@ -29,8 +28,4 @@ private function __construct() {
 		new Tetapi_Domain();
 		new Tetapi_Badge();
 	}
-
-	public function load_textdomain() {
-		load_plugin_textdomain( 'tetapi', false, dirname( plugin_basename( TETAPI_PLUGIN_FILE ) ) . '/languages' );
-	}
 }
diff --git a/includes/class-tetapi-premium.php b/includes/class-tetapi-premium.php
index 5013229..e415cca 100644
--- a/includes/class-tetapi-premium.php
+++ b/includes/class-tetapi-premium.php
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 <?php
 /**
- * Premium ($25 pack) stub — no license-server calls, no payment code. Exists
- * so the free-tier settings page can show what premium unlocks without
- * shipping any of it yet.
+ * Premium teaser + promo-unlock — no payment code, no license-server calls.
+ * Premium isn't for sale yet (owner decision 2026-07-14: free launch). This
+ * class only (a) shows what's planned, and (b) lets the plugin owner GIFT
+ * premium to a site by handing out a redeemable code — e.g. as a reward for
+ * a social-media action — with zero server-side infrastructure.
  */
 
 if ( ! defined( 'ABSPATH' ) ) {
@@ -12,11 +14,36 @@
 class Tetapi_Premium {
 
 	/**
-	 * Always false in this release — license validation is not implemented.
-	 * Kept as a single choke point so a future task can wire up real
-	 * validation without touching call sites.
+	 * SHA-256 hashes of valid promo codes, keyed by hash so the plaintext
+	 * code never sits in the public plugin source (wp.org listings are
+	 * fully readable). Empty by default — is_licensed() stays false until
+	 * the plugin owner adds a hash and ships an update.
+	 *
+	 * To hand out a new code: pick a code (e.g. "TETAPI-LAUNCH-2026"), hash
+	 * it, and add the hash below:
+	 *   php -r "echo hash('sha256', strtoupper('YOURCODE'));"
+	 */
+	private static $promo_code_hashes = array(
+		// 'paste-sha256-hash-here',
+	);
+
+	/**
+	 * True only if the site owner entered a code matching one of the hashes
+	 * above. No payment, no license-server call — a purely local, per-site
+	 * check against a code the plugin owner handed out manually.
 	 */
 	public static function is_licensed() {
+		$entered = trim( (string) get_option( 'tetapi_license_key', '' ) );
+		if ( '' === $entered || empty( self::$promo_code_hashes ) ) {
+			return false;
+		}
+
+		$hash = hash( 'sha256', strtoupper( $entered ) );
+		foreach ( self::$promo_code_hashes as $valid_hash ) {
+			if ( hash_equals( $valid_hash, $hash ) ) {
+				return true;
+			}
+		}
 		return false;
 	}
 
@@ -29,14 +56,22 @@ public static function render_locked_sections() {
 			__( 'Verification nudges', 'tetapi' )         => __( 'Dashboard reminders to complete email/registry verification.', 'tetapi' ),
 			__( 'Priority badge refresh', 'tetapi' )      => __( 'Near-live trust level instead of the 15-minute cache.', 'tetapi' ),
 		);
+		$licensed = self::is_licensed();
 		?>
+		<?php if ( ! $licensed ) : ?>
+			<p class="description">
+				<?php esc_html_e( 'Two premium modules are planned — Module #1 ($25) covers the features below, Module #2 ($52) is a further tier coming later. Not for sale yet; nothing to buy here.', 'tetapi' ); ?>
+			</p>
+		<?php endif; ?>
 		<ul class="tetapi-premium-list">
 			<?php foreach ( $sections as $title => $description ) : ?>
 				<li class="tetapi-premium-list__item">
-					<span class="tetapi-premium-list__lock" aria-hidden="true">🔒</span>
+					<span class="tetapi-premium-list__lock" aria-hidden="true"><?php echo $licensed ? '✅' : '🔒'; ?></span>
 					<strong><?php echo esc_html( $title ); ?></strong>
 					<span class="tetapi-premium-list__desc"><?php echo esc_html( $description ); ?></span>
-					<span class="tetapi-premium-list__badge"><?php esc_html_e( 'Coming with Premium', 'tetapi' ); ?></span>
+					<span class="tetapi-premium-list__badge">
+						<?php echo $licensed ? esc_html__( 'Unlocked', 'tetapi' ) : esc_html__( 'Module #1 — $25, coming soon', 'tetapi' ); ?>
+					</span>
 				</li>
 			<?php endforeach; ?>
 		</ul>
diff --git a/includes/views/settings-page.php b/includes/views/settings-page.php
index aa92616..83c3692 100644
--- a/includes/views/settings-page.php
+++ b/includes/views/settings-page.php
@@ -116,13 +116,20 @@
 		<?php settings_fields( Tetapi_Settings::OPTION_GROUP ); ?>
 		<table class="form-table" role="presentation">
 			<tr>
-				<th scope="row"><label for="tetapi_license_key"><?php esc_html_e( 'License Key', 'tetapi' ); ?></label></th>
+				<th scope="row"><label for="tetapi_license_key"><?php esc_html_e( 'Redeem Code', 'tetapi' ); ?></label></th>
 				<td>
-					<input type="text" id="tetapi_license_key" name="tetapi_license_key" class="regular-text" value="<?php echo esc_attr( get_option( 'tetapi_license_key', '' ) ); ?>" placeholder="<?php esc_attr_e( 'Enter your $25 Premium Pack license key', 'tetapi' ); ?>" />
+					<input type="text" id="tetapi_license_key" name="tetapi_license_key" class="regular-text" value="<?php echo esc_attr( get_option( 'tetapi_license_key', '' ) ); ?>" placeholder="<?php esc_attr_e( 'Have a redeemable code? Enter it here', 'tetapi' ); ?>" />
+					<?php if ( Tetapi_Premium::is_licensed() ) : ?>
+						<p class="description tetapi-premium-status tetapi-premium-status--ok">✅ <?php esc_html_e( 'Premium unlocked on this site.', 'tetapi' ); ?></p>
+					<?php elseif ( get_option( 'tetapi_license_key', '' ) ) : ?>
+						<p class="description tetapi-premium-status tetapi-premium-status--bad"><?php esc_html_e( 'That code is not valid.', 'tetapi' ); ?></p>
+					<?php else : ?>
+						<p class="description"><?php esc_html_e( 'Premium is not for sale yet. Early users may receive a free redeemable code via TetaPi\'s social channels.', 'tetapi' ); ?></p>
+					<?php endif; ?>
 				</td>
 			</tr>
 		</table>
-		<?php submit_button( __( 'Save License Key', 'tetapi' ) ); ?>
+		<?php submit_button( __( 'Save Code', 'tetapi' ) ); ?>
 	</form>
 
 	<?php Tetapi_Premium::render_locked_sections(); ?>
diff --git a/readme.txt b/readme.txt
index c1d36ca..f1d3040 100644
--- a/readme.txt
+++ b/readme.txt
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 Contributors: tetapi
 Tags: trust, verification, badge, domain verification, security
 Requires at least: 5.8
-Tested up to: 6.6
+Tested up to: 7.0
 Requires PHP: 7.4
 Stable tag: 1.0.0
 License: GPLv2 or later
@@ -23,10 +23,13 @@ This plugin lets a site owner:
 * Display a verified-entity badge anywhere via the `[tetapi_badge]` shortcode
   or the "TETA+PI Badge" widget.
 
-A $25 Premium Pack (additional badge styles, automatic placement,
-multi-entity support, WooCommerce integration) is planned; this release ships
-the free tier in full and shows what premium unlocks without requiring
-payment to try the plugin.
+This release is 100% free — every feature above is fully functional with no
+payment required. Two premium modules are planned for later: **Module #1
+($25)** — additional badge styles, automatic placement, multi-entity support,
+WooCommerce integration — and **Module #2 ($52)**, a further tier coming
+after that. Neither is for sale yet; the settings page shows what's planned
+and has a field to redeem a free code if TetaPi gives you one (e.g. as a
+thank-you for a social-media shoutout).
 
 Learn more at [tetapi.dev](https://tetapi.dev).
 
@@ -57,8 +60,26 @@ then generate a personal API key from your account settings.
 
 No, it is encrypted at rest using your site's own WordPress salts.
 
+= Do I have to pay for anything? =
+
+No. Every feature in this release is free. Two premium modules are planned
+for later (Module #1 / Module #2) but neither is for sale yet.
+
+= How do I unlock Premium early? =
+
+Premium isn't for sale yet. TetaPi occasionally gives out free redeemable
+codes to early users, e.g. as a thank-you for a social-media shoutout. If you
+have one, enter it under Settings > TETA+PI > Premium to unlock it on your
+site.
+
+== Screenshots ==
+
+1. Settings > TETA+PI — connect your entity with a personal API key.
+2. Domain ownership verification status and controls.
+3. The TETA+PI trust badge, rendered via shortcode.
+
 == Changelog ==
 
 = 1.0.0 =
 * Initial release: settings/connect page, domain ownership verification,
-  badge shortcode + widget, Premium Pack stubs.
+  badge shortcode + widget, Premium module teasers + free promo-code redeem.
diff --git a/teta-pi.php b/teta-pi.php
index f74ee20..6b8aa88 100644
--- a/teta-pi.php
+++ b/teta-pi.php
@@ -6,12 +6,11 @@
  * Version:           1.0.0
  * Requires at least: 5.8
  * Requires PHP:      7.4
- * Author:            TetaPi GmbH
+ * Author:            TETA+PI
  * Author URI:        https://tetapi.dev
  * License:           GPL v2 or later
  * License URI:       https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html
  * Text Domain:        tetapi
- * Domain Path:        /languages
  */
 
 if ( ! defined( 'ABSPATH' ) ) {