diff --git a/src/cluecode/copyrights.py b/src/cluecode/copyrights.py
index fb257bef371..bceb8cc5e7a 100644
--- a/src/cluecode/copyrights.py
+++ b/src/cluecode/copyrights.py
@@ -3381,7 +3381,7 @@ def candidate_lines(numbered_lines):
 # this catches tags but not does not remove the text inside tags
 remove_tags = re.compile(
     r'<'
-     r'[(--)\?\!\%\/]?'
+     r'[(-\-)\?\!\%\/]?'
      r'[a-gi-vx-zA-GI-VX-Z][a-zA-Z#\"\=\s\.\;\:\%\&?!,\+\*\-_\/]*'
      r'[a-zA-Z0-9#\"\=\s\.\;\:\%\&?!,\+\*\-_\/]+'
     r'\/?>',