diff --git a/setup-commands/xnat2bids/xnat2bids.py b/setup-commands/xnat2bids/xnat2bids.py
index 9f4c242..f25efed 100755
--- a/setup-commands/xnat2bids/xnat2bids.py
+++ b/setup-commands/xnat2bids/xnat2bids.py
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ def copyScanBidsFiles(destDirBase, bidsScanList):
         for f in scan.sourceFiles:
             shutil.copy(f, destDir)
 
-version = "1.0"
+version = "1.1"
 args = docopt(__doc__, version=version)
 
 inputDir = args['<inputDir>']
@@ -201,6 +201,11 @@ def copyScanBidsFiles(destDirBase, bidsScanList):
 # First check if the input directory is a session directory
 sessionBidsScans = bidsifySession(inputDir)
 
+# BIDS specification 1.2.1: Every BIDS dataset MUST include the dataset_description.json file 
+sessionBidsJsonPath = os.path.join(inputDir, 'RESOURCES', 'BIDS', 'dataset_description.json')
+if os.path.exists(sessionBidsJsonPath):
+    shutil.copy(sessionBidsJsonPath, outputDir)
+
 bidsSubjectMap = {}
 if sessionBidsScans:
     subject = getSubjectForBidsScans(sessionBidsScans)