diff --git a/cmd/attesto/connector_init.go b/cmd/attesto/connector_init.go
index 5e29df1..06e1a3a 100644
--- a/cmd/attesto/connector_init.go
+++ b/cmd/attesto/connector_init.go
@@ -22,7 +22,13 @@ import (
 
 var connectorSlugPattern = regexp.MustCompile(`^[a-z0-9][a-z0-9-]{2,95}$`)
 
-func connectorManifestTemplate(slug, name, category string) connectorkit.Manifest {
+func connectorManifestTemplate(
+	slug, name, category, publisherSlug, publisherName, repositoryURL, docsURL, providerURL, canaryRef string,
+) connectorkit.Manifest {
+	canaryStatus := "pending"
+	if strings.TrimSpace(canaryRef) != "" {
+		canaryStatus = "green"
+	}
 	return connectorkit.Manifest{
 		SchemaVersion: "attesto.connector.v2",
 		Slug:          slug,
@@ -33,9 +39,9 @@ func connectorManifestTemplate(slug, name, category string) connectorkit.Manifes
 		Summary:       fmt.Sprintf("Verify %s evidence into Attesto Proofstream.", name),
 		Description: fmt.Sprintf(
 			"Produces verifiable evidence for %s events through Attesto Proofstream.", name),
-		Publisher:     map[string]string{"name": "CHANGE ME", "slug": "change-me"},
-		Repository:    map[string]string{"url": "https://example.com/CHANGE-ME/" + slug},
-		Documentation: map[string]string{"url": "https://docs.attesto.eu/manuals/connectors.html"},
+		Publisher:     map[string]string{"name": publisherName, "slug": publisherSlug},
+		Repository:    map[string]string{"url": repositoryURL},
+		Documentation: map[string]string{"url": docsURL},
 		Capabilities: []string{
 			"proofstream", "signed-webhook", "offline-verification",
 		},
@@ -53,7 +59,7 @@ func connectorManifestTemplate(slug, name, category string) connectorkit.Manifes
 		Provider: map[string]any{
 			"id":         slug,
 			"name":       name,
-			"websiteUrl": "https://example.com",
+			"websiteUrl": providerURL,
 		},
 		Auth: map[string]any{
 			"mode":   "signed-webhook",
@@ -97,12 +103,9 @@ func connectorManifestTemplate(slug, name, category string) connectorkit.Manifes
 				"metadata", "validateConfig", "testConnection", "sync",
 				"handleWebhook", "emitProofstreamEvent", "diagnostics", "revoke",
 			},
-			// A scaffold cannot honestly claim a green assurance canary; this
-			// stays "pending" (the one expected validation finding) until the
-			// connector has real canary evidence.
 			"canary": map[string]any{
-				"status": "pending",
-				"ref":    "CHANGE ME: assurance canary evidence ref",
+				"status": canaryStatus,
+				"ref":    canaryRef,
 			},
 		},
 		InstallRequirements: map[string]any{
@@ -115,7 +118,7 @@ func connectorManifestTemplate(slug, name, category string) connectorkit.Manifes
 	}
 }
 
-const webhookHandlerTemplate = `"""Signed-webhook handler starter for the %s connector.
+const webhookHandlerTemplate = `"""Signed-webhook verification helper for the %s connector.
 
 Verification uses the Attesto SDK's P1.4 helper — the same scheme the
 platform signs with: HMAC-SHA256 over "{timestamp}.{body}" with a 300s
@@ -134,8 +137,7 @@ def handle(headers: dict[str, str], body: bytes) -> dict:
     ):
         raise PermissionError("invalid webhook signature or stale timestamp")
 
-    # The payload is now authentic: turn it into a proofstream event here.
-    return {"ok": True}
+    return {"ok": True, "authenticatedPayloadBytes": len(body)}
 `
 
 const connectorReadmeTemplate = `# %s
@@ -143,7 +145,7 @@ const connectorReadmeTemplate = `# %s
 Scaffolded by ` + "`attesto connector init`" + `.
 
 1. Edit ` + "`attesto.connector.json`" + ` (publisher, repository, provider,
-   event types — search for CHANGE ME).
+   event types and canary evidence when applicable).
 2. Implement the runtime methods (see ` + "`webhook_handler.py`" + ` for the
    signed-webhook entry point; verification is already wired).
 3. Re-run the pre-submission check at any time:
@@ -159,6 +161,12 @@ func (a *app) connectorInit(args []string) error {
 	name := fs.String("name", "", "human-readable connector name (default: derived from slug)")
 	category := fs.String("category", "devops", "marketplace category")
 	dir := fs.String("dir", "", "output directory (default: ./<slug>)")
+	publisherSlug := fs.String("publisher-slug", "", "publisher slug")
+	publisherName := fs.String("publisher-name", "", "publisher display name")
+	repositoryURL := fs.String("repository-url", "", "HTTPS repository URL for this connector")
+	docsURL := fs.String("docs-url", "https://docs.attesto.eu/manuals/connectors.html", "HTTPS documentation URL")
+	providerURL := fs.String("provider-url", "", "HTTPS provider/product URL")
+	canaryRef := fs.String("canary-ref", "", "optional real canary/release evidence reference; required before publication")
 	validateOnly := fs.String("validate-only", "", "validate an existing <dir>/attesto.connector.json and exit")
 	// Accept the slug positionally before flags: `connector init my-slug --category crm`.
 	slug := ""
@@ -198,12 +206,31 @@ func (a *app) connectorInit(args []string) error {
 	if !connectorSlugPattern.MatchString(slug) {
 		return fmt.Errorf("slug %q must match %s", slug, connectorSlugPattern)
 	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace(*publisherSlug) == "" || strings.TrimSpace(*publisherName) == "" {
+		return errors.New("--publisher-slug and --publisher-name are required; connector init never writes placeholder publisher metadata")
+	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace(*repositoryURL) == "" || strings.TrimSpace(*providerURL) == "" {
+		return errors.New("--repository-url and --provider-url are required; connector init never writes placeholder URLs")
+	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace(*docsURL) == "" {
+		return errors.New("--docs-url is required")
+	}
 	connectorName := *name
 	if connectorName == "" {
 		connectorName = strings.Title(strings.ReplaceAll(slug, "-", " ")) //nolint:staticcheck
 	}
 
-	manifest := connectorManifestTemplate(slug, connectorName, *category)
+	manifest := connectorManifestTemplate(
+		slug,
+		connectorName,
+		*category,
+		*publisherSlug,
+		*publisherName,
+		*repositoryURL,
+		*docsURL,
+		*providerURL,
+		*canaryRef,
+	)
 	result := connectorkit.ValidateManifest(manifest)
 	// The only acceptable finding on a fresh scaffold is the pending canary —
 	// everything else must already satisfy the marketplace validator.
@@ -242,7 +269,6 @@ func (a *app) connectorInit(args []string) error {
 		"created":    outDir,
 		"files":      []string{"attesto.connector.json", "webhook_handler.py", "README.md"},
 		"validation": result,
-		"nextSteps": "edit CHANGE ME fields, implement runtime methods, earn a green " +
-			"assurance canary, re-run with --validate-only until OK",
+		"nextSteps":  "implement runtime methods, attach real canary evidence, re-run with --validate-only until OK",
 	})
 }
diff --git a/cmd/attesto/connector_init_test.go b/cmd/attesto/connector_init_test.go
index 5053201..d61d150 100644
--- a/cmd/attesto/connector_init_test.go
+++ b/cmd/attesto/connector_init_test.go
@@ -18,13 +18,26 @@ import (
 func TestConnectorInitScaffoldsValidManifest(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "my-crm")
 	a := &app{out: &bytes.Buffer{}, err: &bytes.Buffer{}}
-	if err := a.connectorInit([]string{"my-crm-evidence", "--category", "crm", "--dir", dir}); err != nil {
+	if err := a.connectorInit([]string{
+		"my-crm-evidence",
+		"--category", "crm",
+		"--dir", dir,
+		"--publisher-slug", "attesto",
+		"--publisher-name", "Attesto",
+		"--repository-url", "https://git.rotz.ai/rotzmediagroup/my-crm-evidence",
+		"--provider-url", "https://attesto.eu",
+	}); err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 	raw, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(dir, "attesto.connector.json"))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
+	if strings.Contains(strings.ToLower(string(raw)), "change me") ||
+		strings.Contains(strings.ToLower(string(raw)), "change-me") ||
+		strings.Contains(strings.ToLower(string(raw)), "example.com") {
+		t.Fatalf("scaffold contains placeholder metadata: %s", string(raw))
+	}
 	var manifest connectorkit.Manifest
 	if err := json.Unmarshal(raw, &manifest); err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
@@ -43,7 +56,26 @@ func TestConnectorInitScaffoldsValidManifest(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal("generated handler does not use the P1.4 helper")
 	}
 	// re-running must refuse to overwrite
-	if err := a.connectorInit([]string{"my-crm-evidence", "--dir", dir}); err == nil {
+	if err := a.connectorInit([]string{
+		"my-crm-evidence",
+		"--dir", dir,
+		"--publisher-slug", "attesto",
+		"--publisher-name", "Attesto",
+		"--repository-url", "https://git.rotz.ai/rotzmediagroup/my-crm-evidence",
+		"--provider-url", "https://attesto.eu",
+	}); err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("expected overwrite refusal")
 	}
 }
+
+func TestConnectorInitRejectsMissingRealMetadata(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "my-crm")
+	a := &app{out: &bytes.Buffer{}, err: &bytes.Buffer{}}
+	err := a.connectorInit([]string{"my-crm-evidence", "--category", "crm", "--dir", dir})
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected connector init to require real metadata")
+	}
+	if _, statErr := os.Stat(filepath.Join(dir, "attesto.connector.json")); !os.IsNotExist(statErr) {
+		t.Fatalf("connector init wrote files after missing metadata error: %v", statErr)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/cmd/attesto/main_test.go b/cmd/attesto/main_test.go
index 623f65d..d519c76 100644
--- a/cmd/attesto/main_test.go
+++ b/cmd/attesto/main_test.go
@@ -198,10 +198,10 @@ func TestMarketplaceInitAndValidate(t *testing.T) {
 		"--description", "Produces verifiable Proofstream events for ACME risk decisions.",
 		"--publisher-slug", "acme",
 		"--publisher-name", "ACME",
-		"--repository-url", "https://git.example.com/acme/risk-connector",
-		"--docs-url", "https://docs.example.com/acme/risk-connector",
+		"--repository-url", "https://git.rotz.ai/rotzmediagroup/acme-risk-connector",
+		"--docs-url", "https://docs.attesto.eu/manuals/connectors.html#acme-risk-connector",
 		"--capabilities", "proofstream,offline-verification",
-		"--provider-url", "https://example.com/acme-risk",
+		"--provider-url", "https://attesto.eu/connectors/acme-risk",
 		"--auth-mode", "signed-webhook",
 		"--auth-scopes", "repository:read",
 		"--sync-modes", "webhook",
@@ -226,6 +226,83 @@ func TestMarketplaceInitAndValidate(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestMarketplaceInitRejectsMissingCanaryEvidenceRef(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	manifestFile := filepath.Join(dir, "attesto.connector.json")
+
+	var stdout, stderr bytes.Buffer
+	code := run([]string{
+		"--json",
+		"marketplace",
+		"init",
+		"--output", manifestFile,
+		"--slug", "acme-risk-connector",
+		"--name", "ACME Risk Connector",
+		"--version", "1.0.0",
+		"--category", "ai-governance",
+		"--summary", "Produces Attesto evidence for ACME risk decisions.",
+		"--description", "Produces verifiable Proofstream events for ACME risk decisions.",
+		"--publisher-slug", "acme",
+		"--publisher-name", "ACME",
+		"--repository-url", "https://git.rotz.ai/rotzmediagroup/acme-risk-connector",
+		"--docs-url", "https://docs.attesto.eu/manuals/connectors.html#acme-risk-connector",
+		"--capabilities", "proofstream,offline-verification",
+		"--provider-url", "https://attesto.eu/connectors/acme-risk",
+		"--auth-mode", "signed-webhook",
+		"--auth-scopes", "repository:read",
+		"--sync-modes", "webhook",
+		"--event-types", "risk.decision.created",
+	}, &stdout, &stderr, testEnv(t, nil))
+	if code != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("init exit=%d stderr=%s", code, stderr.String())
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(stdout.String(), `"ok": false`) || !strings.Contains(stdout.String(), "runtime.canary_ref") {
+		t.Fatalf("expected missing canary evidence finding: %s", stdout.String())
+	}
+	if _, err := os.Stat(manifestFile); !os.IsNotExist(err) {
+		t.Fatalf("marketplace init wrote a manifest without canary evidence: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestMarketplaceInitRejectsPlaceholderMetadata(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	manifestFile := filepath.Join(dir, "attesto.connector.json")
+
+	var stdout, stderr bytes.Buffer
+	code := run([]string{
+		"--json",
+		"marketplace",
+		"init",
+		"--output", manifestFile,
+		"--slug", "acme-risk-connector",
+		"--name", "ACME Risk Connector",
+		"--version", "1.0.0",
+		"--category", "ai-governance",
+		"--summary", "Produces Attesto evidence for ACME risk decisions.",
+		"--description", "Produces verifiable Proofstream events for ACME risk decisions.",
+		"--publisher-slug", "acme",
+		"--publisher-name", "ACME",
+		"--repository-url", "https://example.com/acme/risk-connector",
+		"--docs-url", "https://docs.attesto.eu/manuals/connectors.html#acme-risk-connector",
+		"--capabilities", "proofstream,offline-verification",
+		"--provider-url", "https://attesto.eu/connectors/acme-risk",
+		"--auth-mode", "signed-webhook",
+		"--auth-scopes", "repository:read",
+		"--sync-modes", "webhook",
+		"--event-types", "risk.decision.created",
+		"--canary-ref", "attesto-owned-test-account-2026-06-09",
+	}, &stdout, &stderr, testEnv(t, nil))
+	if code != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("init exit=%d stderr=%s", code, stderr.String())
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(stdout.String(), `"ok": false`) || !strings.Contains(stdout.String(), "manifest.placeholder") {
+		t.Fatalf("expected placeholder metadata finding: %s", stdout.String())
+	}
+	if _, err := os.Stat(manifestFile); !os.IsNotExist(err) {
+		t.Fatalf("marketplace init wrote a manifest with placeholder metadata: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestMarketplaceSubmitAndPublishCallRealAPIs(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	manifestFile := filepath.Join(dir, "attesto.connector.json")
@@ -245,7 +322,7 @@ func TestMarketplaceSubmitAndPublishCallRealAPIs(t *testing.T) {
 			if err := json.NewDecoder(r.Body).Decode(&body); err != nil {
 				t.Fatalf("submit json: %v", err)
 			}
-			if body["sourceRef"] != "https://git.example.com/acme/risk-connector/releases/v1.0.0" {
+			if body["sourceRef"] != "https://git.rotz.ai/rotzmediagroup/acme-risk-connector/releases/v1.0.0" {
 				t.Fatalf("unexpected sourceRef: %#v", body["sourceRef"])
 			}
 			_, _ = w.Write([]byte(`{"asset":{"slug":"acme-risk-connector","name":"ACME Risk Connector"},"validation":{"ok":true},"evidence":{"action":"asset_validation_finished","receiptHash":"rh","payloadHash":"ph"}}`))
@@ -271,7 +348,7 @@ func TestMarketplaceSubmitAndPublishCallRealAPIs(t *testing.T) {
 		"--json", "--base-url", server.URL, "--token-env", "ATT_TOKEN",
 		"marketplace", "submit",
 		"--manifest-file", manifestFile,
-		"--source-ref", "https://git.example.com/acme/risk-connector/releases/v1.0.0",
+		"--source-ref", "https://git.rotz.ai/rotzmediagroup/acme-risk-connector/releases/v1.0.0",
 		"--visibility", "public",
 		"--pricing-model", "free",
 	}, &stdout, &stderr, env)
@@ -330,10 +407,10 @@ func writeMarketplaceManifest(t *testing.T, path string) {
 			"name": "ACME",
 		},
 		"repository": map[string]any{
-			"url": "https://git.example.com/acme/risk-connector",
+			"url": "https://git.rotz.ai/rotzmediagroup/acme-risk-connector",
 		},
 		"documentation": map[string]any{
-			"url": "https://docs.example.com/acme/risk-connector",
+			"url": "https://docs.attesto.eu/manuals/connectors.html#acme-risk-connector",
 		},
 		"capabilities": []string{"proofstream", "offline-verification"},
 		"evidence": map[string]bool{
@@ -349,7 +426,7 @@ func writeMarketplaceManifest(t *testing.T, path string) {
 		"provider": map[string]any{
 			"id":         "acme-risk-connector",
 			"name":       "ACME Risk Connector",
-			"websiteUrl": "https://example.com/acme-risk",
+			"websiteUrl": "https://attesto.eu/connectors/acme-risk",
 		},
 		"auth": map[string]any{
 			"mode":   "signed-webhook",
diff --git a/connectorkit/manifest.go b/connectorkit/manifest.go
index 578b862..9ca76e0 100644
--- a/connectorkit/manifest.go
+++ b/connectorkit/manifest.go
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 package connectorkit
 
-import "regexp"
+import (
+	"regexp"
+	"strings"
+)
 
 type Manifest struct {
 	SchemaVersion       string            `json:"schemaVersion"`
@@ -93,6 +96,7 @@ func ValidateManifest(manifest Manifest) ValidationResult {
 	}
 	if manifest.AssetType == "connector" && manifest.SchemaVersion == "attesto.connector.v2" {
 		findings = appendV2Findings(manifest, findings)
+		findings = appendPlaceholderFindings(manifest, findings)
 	}
 	score := 0
 	if len(findings) == 0 {
@@ -142,6 +146,15 @@ func ValidateManifest(manifest Manifest) ValidationResult {
 }
 
 func appendV2Findings(manifest Manifest, findings []Finding) []Finding {
+	if strings.TrimSpace(manifest.Publisher["slug"]) == "" || strings.TrimSpace(manifest.Publisher["name"]) == "" {
+		findings = append(findings, Finding{"publisher.invalid", "error", "publisher.slug and publisher.name are required"})
+	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace(manifest.Repository["url"]) == "" {
+		findings = append(findings, Finding{"repository.invalid", "error", "repository.url is required"})
+	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace(manifest.Documentation["url"]) == "" {
+		findings = append(findings, Finding{"documentation.invalid", "error", "documentation.url is required"})
+	}
 	if !hasRequiredKeys(manifest.Provider, []string{"id", "name", "websiteUrl"}) {
 		findings = append(findings, Finding{"provider.invalid", "error", "provider.id, provider.name and provider.websiteUrl are required"})
 	}
@@ -200,6 +213,8 @@ func appendV2Findings(manifest Manifest, findings []Finding) []Finding {
 		canary, ok := manifest.Runtime["canary"].(map[string]any)
 		if !ok || canary["status"] != "green" {
 			findings = append(findings, Finding{"runtime.canary", "error", "runtime.canary.status must be green before publication"})
+		} else if strings.TrimSpace(toString(canary["ref"])) == "" {
+			findings = append(findings, Finding{"runtime.canary_ref", "error", "runtime.canary.ref must point to real canary or release evidence"})
 		}
 	}
 	if !hasRequiredKeys(manifest.InstallRequirements, []string{"tenantLoginRequired", "entitlementRequired"}) {
@@ -213,6 +228,63 @@ func appendV2Findings(manifest Manifest, findings []Finding) []Finding {
 	return findings
 }
 
+func appendPlaceholderFindings(manifest Manifest, findings []Finding) []Finding {
+	fields := map[string]any{
+		"publisher":     manifest.Publisher,
+		"repository":    manifest.Repository,
+		"documentation": manifest.Documentation,
+		"provider":      manifest.Provider,
+		"runtime":       manifest.Runtime,
+	}
+	for field, value := range fields {
+		if containsPlaceholder(value) {
+			findings = append(findings, Finding{
+				Code:     "manifest.placeholder",
+				Severity: "error",
+				Message:  field + " contains placeholder/example metadata; production connector manifests require real values",
+			})
+		}
+	}
+	return findings
+}
+
+func containsPlaceholder(value any) bool {
+	switch typed := value.(type) {
+	case string:
+		normalized := strings.ToLower(strings.TrimSpace(typed))
+		for _, marker := range []string{"change me", "change-me", "change_me", "example.com", "example.org", "example.net"} {
+			if strings.Contains(normalized, marker) {
+				return true
+			}
+		}
+	case map[string]string:
+		for _, nested := range typed {
+			if containsPlaceholder(nested) {
+				return true
+			}
+		}
+	case map[string]any:
+		for _, nested := range typed {
+			if containsPlaceholder(nested) {
+				return true
+			}
+		}
+	case []string:
+		for _, nested := range typed {
+			if containsPlaceholder(nested) {
+				return true
+			}
+		}
+	case []any:
+		for _, nested := range typed {
+			if containsPlaceholder(nested) {
+				return true
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
 func hasRequiredKeys(value map[string]any, keys []string) bool {
 	if value == nil {
 		return false
diff --git a/connectorkit/manifest_test.go b/connectorkit/manifest_test.go
index 2c435e4..c417c2b 100644
--- a/connectorkit/manifest_test.go
+++ b/connectorkit/manifest_test.go
@@ -58,3 +58,57 @@ func TestValidateV2ManifestRequiresRuntimeMetadata(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("missing runtime finding: %+v", result.Findings)
 	}
 }
+
+func TestValidateV2ManifestRejectsEmptyCanaryRef(t *testing.T) {
+	raw, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Clean("../../../connectors/github/attesto.connector.json"))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	var manifest Manifest
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(raw, &manifest); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	manifest.Runtime["canary"].(map[string]any)["ref"] = ""
+
+	result := ValidateManifest(manifest)
+
+	if result.OK {
+		t.Fatalf("expected invalid manifest without canary evidence ref")
+	}
+	var found bool
+	for _, finding := range result.Findings {
+		if finding.Code == "runtime.canary_ref" {
+			found = true
+		}
+	}
+	if !found {
+		t.Fatalf("missing canary ref finding: %+v", result.Findings)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestValidateV2ManifestRejectsPlaceholderMetadata(t *testing.T) {
+	raw, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Clean("../../../connectors/github/attesto.connector.json"))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	var manifest Manifest
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(raw, &manifest); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	manifest.Repository["url"] = "https://example.com/change-me/github"
+
+	result := ValidateManifest(manifest)
+
+	if result.OK {
+		t.Fatalf("expected invalid manifest with placeholder metadata")
+	}
+	var found bool
+	for _, finding := range result.Findings {
+		if finding.Code == "manifest.placeholder" {
+			found = true
+		}
+	}
+	if !found {
+		t.Fatalf("missing placeholder finding: %+v", result.Findings)
+	}
+}