diff --git a/fuji_server/data/software_file.json b/fuji_server/data/software_file.json
index 9d7f3b57..c83ec62f 100644
--- a/fuji_server/data/software_file.json
+++ b/fuji_server/data/software_file.json
@@ -42,7 +42,8 @@
     "parse": "full",
     "pattern": [
       "(\\w*/)*LICEN(S|C)E(\\.\\w*)?",
-      "(\\w*/)*licen(s|c)e(\\.\\w*)?"
+      "(\\w*/)*licen(s|c)e(\\.\\w*)?",
+      "(\\w*/)*COPYING"
     ]
   },
   "maven_pom": {
diff --git a/fuji_server/evaluators/fair_evaluator_license_file.py b/fuji_server/evaluators/fair_evaluator_license_file.py
index 6cd5dce7..99491865 100644
--- a/fuji_server/evaluators/fair_evaluator_license_file.py
+++ b/fuji_server/evaluators/fair_evaluator_license_file.py
@@ -49,15 +49,15 @@ def setLicenseDataAndOutput(self):
         self.license_info = []
         # check for any recognised license files
         parsed_license_file_data = self.fuji.github_data.get("license_file")
-        if parsed_license_file_data is not None and len(parsed_license_file_data) > 0:
-            license_file_paths = [lf["path"] for lf in parsed_license_file_data]
         metadata_license = self.fuji.github_data.get("license")
         metadata_license_path = self.fuji.github_data.get("license_path")
         recognised_licenses = []
         if metadata_license is not None:
-            for lfp in license_file_paths:  # only use metadata information if it matches a license file
-                if lfp == metadata_license_path:
-                    recognised_licenses.append(metadata_license)
+            if parsed_license_file_data is not None and len(parsed_license_file_data) > 0:
+                license_file_paths = [lf["path"] for lf in parsed_license_file_data]
+                for lfp in license_file_paths:  # only use metadata information if it matches a license file
+                    if lfp == metadata_license_path:
+                        recognised_licenses.append(metadata_license)
         if recognised_licenses is not None and recognised_licenses != []:
             for license in recognised_licenses:
                 isurl = False