diff --git a/example-projects/ruta-ep-example-extensions/pom.xml b/example-projects/ruta-ep-example-extensions/pom.xml
index 01f358d..b0e7877 100644
--- a/example-projects/ruta-ep-example-extensions/pom.xml
+++ b/example-projects/ruta-ep-example-extensions/pom.xml
@@ -97,11 +97,7 @@
             <execution>
               <id>default-cli</id>
               <configuration>
-                <excludes>
-                  <exclude>release.properties</exclude> <!-- release generated artifact -->
-                  <exclude>marker-file-identifying-*</exclude>
-                  <exclude>META-INF/MANIFEST.MF</exclude>
-                  <exclude>issuesFixed/**</exclude>
+                <excludes combine.children="append">
                   <exclude>src/test/resources/org/apache/uima/ruta/example/extensions/*.txt</exclude> <!-- test data -->
                   <exclude>src/test/resources/org/apache/uima/ruta/example/extensions/*ruta</exclude> <!-- test data -->
                 </excludes>
diff --git a/example-projects/ruta-maven-example/pom.xml b/example-projects/ruta-maven-example/pom.xml
index 7df423a..f591a80 100644
--- a/example-projects/ruta-maven-example/pom.xml
+++ b/example-projects/ruta-maven-example/pom.xml
@@ -93,10 +93,9 @@
             <execution>
               <id>default-cli</id>
               <configuration>
-                <excludes>
+                <excludes combine.children="append">
                   <exclude>.buildpath</exclude> <!-- generate IDE file -->
                   <exclude>src/main/resources/FirstNames.txt</exclude> <!-- dictionary -->
-                  <exclude>issuesFixed/**</exclude> <!-- generated -->
                 </excludes>
               </configuration>
             </execution>
diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index a33cdaa..043ffc2 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -146,26 +146,34 @@
     <pluginManagement>
       <plugins>
         <plugin>
-          <!-- run Release Audit Tool (RAT) -->
           <groupId>org.apache.rat</groupId>
           <artifactId>apache-rat-plugin</artifactId>
           <executions>
             <execution>
               <id>default-cli</id>
+                <!-- default configuration -->
               <configuration>
-                <excludes>
-                  <exclude>target/**</exclude>
+                <excludes combine.children="append">
+                  <!--  workaround https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/RAT-97 -->
                   <exclude>example-projects/**</exclude>
-                  <exclude>README*</exclude>
-                  <exclude>RELEASE_NOTES*</exclude>
-                  <exclude>issuesFixed/**</exclude>
-                  <exclude>src/main/resources/docbook-shared/titlepage/*.xsl</exclude>
-                  <exclude>marker-file-identifying-*</exclude>
-                  <exclude>ruta-eclipse-update-site/target/**</exclude>
-                  <exclude>ruta-eclipse-update-site/marker-file-identifying-*</exclude>
-                  <exclude>ruta-eclipse-update-site/.settings/**</exclude>
-                  <exclude>ruta-eclipse-update-site/.project</exclude>
-                  <exclude>DEPENDENCIES</exclude>
+                  <exclude>ruta-basic-type/**</exclude>
+                  <exclude>ruta-core/**</exclude>
+                  <exclude>ruta-core-ext/**</exclude>
+                  <exclude>ruta-docbook/**</exclude>
+                  <exclude>ruta-eclipse-feature/**</exclude>
+                  <exclude>ruta-eclipse-update-site/**</exclude>
+                  <exclude>ruta-ep-addons/**</exclude>
+                  <exclude>ruta-ep-caseditor/**</exclude>
+                  <exclude>ruta-ep-core-ext/**</exclude>
+                  <exclude>ruta-ep-engine/**</exclude>
+                  <exclude>ruta-ep-ide/**</exclude>
+                  <exclude>ruta-ep-ide-ui/**</exclude>
+                  <exclude>ruta-ep-parent/**</exclude>
+                  <exclude>ruta-ep-textruler/**</exclude>
+                  <exclude>ruta-maven-archetype/**</exclude>
+                  <exclude>ruta-maven-plugin/**</exclude>
+                  <exclude>ruta-parent/**</exclude>
+                  <exclude>ruta-typesystem/**</exclude>
                 </excludes>
               </configuration>
             </execution>
diff --git a/ruta-basic-type/pom.xml b/ruta-basic-type/pom.xml
index 45ad6c6..847e1f6 100644
--- a/ruta-basic-type/pom.xml
+++ b/ruta-basic-type/pom.xml
@@ -75,10 +75,8 @@
             <execution>
               <id>default-cli</id>
               <configuration>
-                <excludes>
+                <excludes combine.children="append">
                   <exclude>src/main/resources/META-INF/org.apache.uima.fit/*.txt</exclude>
-                  <exclude>issuesFixed/**</exclude> <!-- generated -->
-                  <exclude>marker-file-identifying-*</exclude>
                 </excludes>
               </configuration>
             </execution>
diff --git a/ruta-core-ext/pom.xml b/ruta-core-ext/pom.xml
index b665411..9863f40 100644
--- a/ruta-core-ext/pom.xml
+++ b/ruta-core-ext/pom.xml
@@ -75,10 +75,9 @@
             <execution>
               <id>default-cli</id>
               <configuration>
-                <excludes>
+                <excludes combine.children="append">
                   <exclude>src/test/resources/org/apache/uima/ruta/block/fst/*.txt</exclude> <!-- test data -->
                   <exclude>src/test/resources/org/apache/uima/ruta/action/*.*</exclude> <!-- test data -->
-                  <exclude>issuesFixed/**</exclude> <!-- generated -->
                 </excludes>
               </configuration>
             </execution>
diff --git a/ruta-core/pom.xml b/ruta-core/pom.xml
index 5356837..a1fae5b 100644
--- a/ruta-core/pom.xml
+++ b/ruta-core/pom.xml
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@
             <execution>
               <id>default-cli</id>
               <configuration>
-                <excludes>
+                <excludes combine.children="append">
                   <exclude>src/main/antlr3/org/apache/uima/ruta/parser/RutaLexer.tokens</exclude> <!-- grammar tokens -->
                   <exclude>src/main/antlr3/org/apache/uima/ruta/parser/RutaParser.tokens</exclude> <!-- grammar tokens -->
                   <exclude>src/test/resources/org/apache/uima/ruta/**/*.txt</exclude> <!-- test data -->
@@ -197,11 +197,8 @@
                   <exclude>src/test/resources/org/apache/uima/ruta/engine/*.html</exclude> <!-- test data -->
                   <exclude>src/test/resources/META-INF/org.apache.uima.fit/types.txt</exclude> <!-- test data -->
                   <exclude>src/main/resources/META-INF/org.apache.uima.fit/*.txt</exclude>
-                  <exclude>api-change-report/**</exclude>
-                  <exclude>issuesFixed/**</exclude> <!-- generated -->
                   <exclude>input/**</exclude> <!-- temp test data -->
                   <exclude>TypeSystem.xml</exclude> <!-- temp test data -->
-                  <exclude>marker-file-identifying-*</exclude>
                 </excludes>
               </configuration>
             </execution>
diff --git a/ruta-ep-addons/pom.xml b/ruta-ep-addons/pom.xml
index 2fdb2a3..e93b161 100644
--- a/ruta-ep-addons/pom.xml
+++ b/ruta-ep-addons/pom.xml
@@ -174,12 +174,8 @@
             <execution>
               <id>default-cli</id>
               <configuration>
-                <excludes>
-                  <exclude>release.properties</exclude> <!-- release generated artifact -->
+                <excludes combine.children="append">
                   <exclude>src/test/resources/ManualTests/*</exclude> <!-- test data -->
-                  <exclude>marker-file-identifying-*</exclude>
-                  <exclude>META-INF/MANIFEST.MF</exclude>
-                  <exclude>issuesFixed/**</exclude>
                 </excludes>
               </configuration>
             </execution>
diff --git a/ruta-ep-caseditor/pom.xml b/ruta-ep-caseditor/pom.xml
index eed81f1..72cc9a2 100644
--- a/ruta-ep-caseditor/pom.xml
+++ b/ruta-ep-caseditor/pom.xml
@@ -135,12 +135,8 @@
             <execution>
               <id>default-cli</id>
               <configuration>
-                <excludes>
-                  <exclude>release.properties</exclude> <!-- release generated artifact -->
+                <excludes combine.children="append">
                   <exclude>src/test/resources/ManualTests/*</exclude> <!-- test data -->
-                  <exclude>marker-file-identifying-*</exclude>
-                  <exclude>META-INF/MANIFEST.MF</exclude>
-                  <exclude>issuesFixed/**</exclude>
                 </excludes>
               </configuration>
             </execution>
diff --git a/ruta-ep-core-ext/pom.xml b/ruta-ep-core-ext/pom.xml
index a072c93..9151d58 100644
--- a/ruta-ep-core-ext/pom.xml
+++ b/ruta-ep-core-ext/pom.xml
@@ -96,27 +96,6 @@
   <build>
     <!-- don't use artifactId as first part of finalName, follow instead the eclipse convention -->
     <finalName>org.apache.uima.ruta.core.ext_${parsedVersion.osgiVersion}</finalName>
-    <pluginManagement>
-      <plugins>
-        <plugin>
-          <groupId>org.apache.rat</groupId>
-          <artifactId>apache-rat-plugin</artifactId>
-          <executions>
-            <execution>
-              <id>default-cli</id>
-              <configuration>
-                <excludes>
-                  <exclude>release.properties</exclude> <!-- release generated artifact -->
-                  <exclude>marker-file-identifying-*</exclude>
-                  <exclude>META-INF/MANIFEST.MF</exclude>
-                  <exclude>issuesFixed/**</exclude>
-                </excludes>
-              </configuration>
-            </execution>
-          </executions>
-        </plugin>
-      </plugins>
-    </pluginManagement>
 
     <plugins>
       <plugin>
diff --git a/ruta-ep-engine/pom.xml b/ruta-ep-engine/pom.xml
index 1eb6f2e..bba5a98 100644
--- a/ruta-ep-engine/pom.xml
+++ b/ruta-ep-engine/pom.xml
@@ -219,27 +219,7 @@
         <directory>src/main/readme_src</directory>
       </resource>
     </resources>
-    <pluginManagement>
-      <plugins>
-        <plugin>
-          <groupId>org.apache.rat</groupId>
-          <artifactId>apache-rat-plugin</artifactId>
-          <executions>
-            <execution>
-              <id>default-cli</id>
-              <configuration>
-                <excludes>
-                  <exclude>release.properties</exclude> <!-- release generated artifact -->
-                  <exclude>marker-file-identifying-*</exclude>
-                  <exclude>META-INF/MANIFEST.MF</exclude>
-                  <exclude>issuesFixed/**</exclude>
-                </excludes>
-              </configuration>
-            </execution>
-          </executions>
-        </plugin>
-      </plugins>
-    </pluginManagement>
+
     <plugins>
       <plugin>
         <groupId>org.apache.felix</groupId>
diff --git a/ruta-ep-ide-ui/pom.xml b/ruta-ep-ide-ui/pom.xml
index 4775b98..03932cc 100644
--- a/ruta-ep-ide-ui/pom.xml
+++ b/ruta-ep-ide-ui/pom.xml
@@ -243,16 +243,12 @@
             <execution>
               <id>default-cli</id>
               <configuration>
-                <excludes>
-                  <exclude>release.properties</exclude> <!-- release generated artifact -->
-                  <exclude>marker-file-identifying-*</exclude>
-                  <exclude>META-INF/MANIFEST.MF</exclude>
+                <excludes combine.children="append">
                   <exclude>src/main/resources/org/apache/uima/ruta/ide/formatter/*.ruta</exclude> <!-- preview file -->
                   <exclude>src/main/resources/org/apache/uima/ruta/ide/formatter/preferences/*.ruta</exclude> <!-- preview file -->
                   <exclude>src/main/resources/org/apache/uima/ruta/ide/launching/*.ruta</exclude> <!-- preview file -->
                   <exclude>src/main/resources/org/apache/uima/ruta/ide/ui/documentation/*.html</exclude> <!-- hover documentation -->
                   <exclude>src/main/resources/org/apache/uima/ruta/ide/ui/preferences/*.txt</exclude> <!-- preview file -->
-                  <exclude>issuesFixed/**</exclude>
                 </excludes>
               </configuration>
             </execution>
diff --git a/ruta-ep-ide/pom.xml b/ruta-ep-ide/pom.xml
index b2de160..c0f27fd 100644
--- a/ruta-ep-ide/pom.xml
+++ b/ruta-ep-ide/pom.xml
@@ -142,13 +142,9 @@
             <execution>
               <id>default-cli</id>
               <configuration>
-                <excludes>
-                  <exclude>release.properties</exclude> <!-- release generated artifact -->
-                  <exclude>marker-file-identifying-*</exclude>
-                  <exclude>META-INF/MANIFEST.MF</exclude>
+                <excludes combine.children="append">
                   <exclude>src/main/antlr3/org/apache/uima/ruta/ide/core/parser/RutaLexer.tokens</exclude> <!-- grammar tokens -->
                   <exclude>src/main/antlr3/org/apache/uima/ruta/ide/core/parser/RutaParser.tokens</exclude> <!-- grammar tokens -->
-                  <exclude>issuesFixed/**</exclude>
                 </excludes>
               </configuration>
             </execution>
diff --git a/ruta-ep-textruler/pom.xml b/ruta-ep-textruler/pom.xml
index 84b3836..1d23ac3 100644
--- a/ruta-ep-textruler/pom.xml
+++ b/ruta-ep-textruler/pom.xml
@@ -127,27 +127,6 @@
         <directory>src/main/readme_src</directory>
       </resource>
     </resources>
-    <pluginManagement>
-      <plugins>
-        <plugin>
-          <groupId>org.apache.rat</groupId>
-          <artifactId>apache-rat-plugin</artifactId>
-          <executions>
-            <execution>
-              <id>default-cli</id>
-              <configuration>
-                <excludes>
-                  <exclude>release.properties</exclude> <!-- release generated artifact -->
-                  <exclude>marker-file-identifying-*</exclude>
-                  <exclude>META-INF/MANIFEST.MF</exclude>
-                  <exclude>issuesFixed/**</exclude>
-                </excludes>
-              </configuration>
-            </execution>
-          </executions>
-        </plugin>
-      </plugins>
-    </pluginManagement>
 
     <plugins>
       <plugin>
diff --git a/ruta-maven-archetype/pom.xml b/ruta-maven-archetype/pom.xml
index c6292cd..71db411 100644
--- a/ruta-maven-archetype/pom.xml
+++ b/ruta-maven-archetype/pom.xml
@@ -65,11 +65,9 @@
             <execution>
               <id>default-cli</id>
               <configuration>
-                <excludes>
+                <excludes combine.children="append">
                   <exclude>src/main/resources/archetype-resources/src/main/resources/META-INF/org.apache.uima.fit/*.txt</exclude> <!-- uimafit -->
                   <exclude>src/main/resources/archetype-resources/src/main/resources/**/*.txt</exclude> <!-- dictionary -->
-                  <exclude>issuesFixed/**</exclude> <!-- generated -->
-                  <exclude>marker-file-identifying-*</exclude>
                 </excludes>
               </configuration>
             </execution>
diff --git a/ruta-maven-plugin/pom.xml b/ruta-maven-plugin/pom.xml
index 544c151..b481f2a 100644
--- a/ruta-maven-plugin/pom.xml
+++ b/ruta-maven-plugin/pom.xml
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@
             <execution>
               <id>default-cli</id>
               <configuration>
-                <excludes>
+                <excludes combine.children="append">
                   <exclude>src/test/**/*.ruta</exclude> <!-- test data -->
                   <exclude>src/it/**/*.ruta</exclude> <!-- test data -->
                   <exclude>src/it/**/*.txt</exclude> <!-- test data -->