diff --git a/.monorepo-source.json b/.monorepo-source.json
index 6a35d60..f558cdc 100644
--- a/.monorepo-source.json
+++ b/.monorepo-source.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "productId": "funkycommerce-headless",
   "repository": "coded-letter/superfunky-theme",
-  "source": "coded-letter/coded-letter-monorepo@95339e345eae0577fd6ec2a8748b636e645d5150",
+  "source": "coded-letter/coded-letter-monorepo@d3df02900ae9d6ca232dad2f5098e430012f2418",
   "sourcePath": "workspace/backend/wordpress/themes/free/funkycommerce-headless",
   "installSlug": "funkycommerce-headless",
   "kind": "theme",
diff --git a/functions.php b/functions.php
index b7efd84..b49a5ab 100644
--- a/functions.php
+++ b/functions.php
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 	exit;
 }
 
-define( 'FUNKYCOMMERCE_HEADLESS_VERSION', '1.2.17' );
+define( 'FUNKYCOMMERCE_HEADLESS_VERSION', '1.2.18' );
 
 /**
  * Whether Superfunky Pro is active and licensed.
diff --git a/inc/control-center-schema.php b/inc/control-center-schema.php
index edd9ce5..74056e2 100644
--- a/inc/control-center-schema.php
+++ b/inc/control-center-schema.php
@@ -435,7 +435,13 @@ function funkycommerce_control_center_sections() {
 			'title'       => __( 'Footer', 'funkycommerce-headless' ),
 			'description' => __( 'Footer content, social profiles, and newsletter copy. Native WordPress menus own column assignments; layout alternatives remain in Layout Studio.', 'funkycommerce-headless' ),
 			'fields'      => array(
-				'copyright_text'           => array( 'label' => __( 'Copyright text', 'funkycommerce-headless' ), 'type' => 'text', 'tier' => 'free' ),
+				'copyright_text'           => array(
+					'label'       => __( 'Copyright text', 'funkycommerce-headless' ),
+					'type'        => 'textarea',
+					'tier'        => 'free',
+					'sanitize'    => 'html',
+					'description' => __( 'Basic HTML is allowed, including links.', 'funkycommerce-headless' ),
+				),
 				'social_links'             => array( 'label' => __( 'Social profiles', 'funkycommerce-headless' ), 'type' => 'social_links', 'tier' => 'free', 'default' => array(), 'description' => __( 'Free theme feature. Add any supported platform more than once; every profile opens in a new tab.', 'funkycommerce-headless' ) ),
 				'newsletter_heading'       => array( 'label' => __( 'Newsletter heading', 'funkycommerce-headless' ), 'type' => 'text', 'tier' => 'free' ),
 				'newsletter_text'          => array( 'label' => __( 'Newsletter supporting text', 'funkycommerce-headless' ), 'type' => 'textarea', 'tier' => 'free' ),
diff --git a/inc/control-center.php b/inc/control-center.php
index 2763492..89d82be 100644
--- a/inc/control-center.php
+++ b/inc/control-center.php
@@ -765,7 +765,7 @@ function funkycommerce_storefront_control_settings( $language = '' ) {
 			'newsletterText'          => (string) ( $settings['newsletter_text'] ?? '' ),
 			'newsletterPrivacyLabel'  => (string) ( $settings['newsletter_privacy_label'] ?? '' ),
 			'extraHtml'               => (string) ( $settings['footer_extra_content'] ?? '' ),
-			'copyrightText'           => (string) ( $settings['copyright_text'] ?? '' ),
+			'copyrightText'           => wp_kses_post( (string) ( $settings['copyright_text'] ?? '' ) ),
 			'spotifyPlaylistUrl'      => funkycommerce_normalize_spotify_playlist_url( $settings['spotify_playlist_url'] ?? '' ),
 			'spotifyPlaylistEmbedUrl' => funkycommerce_spotify_playlist_embed_url( $settings['spotify_playlist_url'] ?? '' ),
 			'spotifyPlayerTitle'       => sanitize_text_field( (string) ( $settings['spotify_player_title'] ?? '' ) ),
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index bfd5157..a2c49a9 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "funkycommerce-headless-theme",
-  "version": "1.2.17",
+  "version": "1.2.18",
   "lockfileVersion": 3,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "funkycommerce-headless-theme",
-      "version": "1.2.17",
+      "version": "1.2.18",
       "devDependencies": {
         "autoprefixer": "^10.4.20",
         "esbuild": "^0.28.2",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index b44b369..ce2bfcc 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "funkycommerce-headless-theme",
   "private": true,
-  "version": "1.2.17",
+  "version": "1.2.18",
   "description": "Tailwind/build tooling for the FunkyCommerce Headless WordPress theme's native frontend assets (block templates, template parts, loader, and Spotify slot).",
   "scripts": {
     "build:css": "tailwindcss -i ./assets/css/theme-source.css -o ./assets/dist/theme.css --minify",
diff --git a/readme.txt b/readme.txt
index 48d27fc..3fc5c30 100644
--- a/readme.txt
+++ b/readme.txt
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ Tags: headless, woocommerce, wpgraphql, full-site-editing
 Requires at least: 6.7
 Tested up to: 6.8
 Requires PHP: 7.4
-Stable tag: 1.2.17
+Stable tag: 1.2.18
 License: GPL-2.0-or-later
 License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html
 
@@ -15,6 +15,11 @@ Control Center, the theme also ships a complete native WordPress rendering path
 "Native frontend theme" below) with accessible header/footer/navigation templates and
 core front/home/singular/archive/search/404 routes styled to match the storefront.
 
+== 1.2.18 highlights ==
+
+* Allows safe HTML links in the free-theme footer copyright field.
+* Sanitizes copyright markup in WordPress and again before storefront rendering.
+
 == 1.2.17 highlights ==
 
 * Publishes configured llms.txt documents reliably for static storefront deployments.
diff --git a/style.css b/style.css
index 66a39be..8cd51e7 100644
--- a/style.css
+++ b/style.css
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ Description: A minimal, content-first block theme for polished WordPress preview
 Requires at least: 6.7
 Tested up to: 6.8
 Requires PHP: 7.4
-Version: 1.2.17
+Version: 1.2.18
 Update URI: https://github.com/coded-letter/superfunky-theme
 License: GPL-2.0-or-later
 License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html