diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 048a9daa6c..1a7e58cf1f 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -284,3 +284,7 @@ When adding support for a new Python release remember to:
 - Update github workflows accordingly; lint and benchmarks use the latest supported version
 - Update `.pre-commit-config.yaml`
 - Update tox examples in the documentation
+
+## Contributions that involve new packages
+
+As part of an effort to mitigate namespace squatting on Pypi, please ensure to check whether a package name has been taken already on Pypi before contributing a new package. Contact a maintainer, bring the issue up in the weekly Python SIG or create a ticket in Pypi if a desired name has already been taken.
diff --git a/RELEASING.md b/RELEASING.md
index e324621634..09e23ba357 100644
--- a/RELEASING.md
+++ b/RELEASING.md
@@ -88,6 +88,10 @@
     https://readthedocs.org/projects/opentelemetry-python/builds/.
     If the build has not run automatically, it can be manually trigger via the readthedocs interface.
 
+## Releasing dev version of new packages to claim namespace
+
+When a contribution introduces a new package, in order to mitigate name-squatting incidents, release the current development version of the new package under the `opentelemetry` user to simply claim the namespace. This should be done shortly after the PR that introduced this package has been merged into `main`.
+
 ## Troubleshooting
 
 ### Publish failed