diff --git a/.github/CONTRIBUTING.md b/.github/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 6fc07559..679c693e 100644
--- a/.github/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/.github/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ Some things that make it easier for us to accept your pull requests
 * The code is tested
 * The `npm run all` build passes (executes tests + linting)
 * The work is combined into a single commit
-* The commit messages adhere to our [guideline](https://github.com/bpmn-io/bpmn-js/blob/master/docs/project/COMMIT_MESSAGES.md)
+* The commit messages adhere to the [conventional commits guidelines](https://www.conventionalcommits.org)
 
 
 We'd be glad to assist you if you do not get these things right in the first place.
diff --git a/docs/project/COMMIT_MESSAGES.md b/docs/project/COMMIT_MESSAGES.md
deleted file mode 100644
index e7d6ffd5..00000000
--- a/docs/project/COMMIT_MESSAGES.md
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,82 +0,0 @@
-# Commit Messages
-
-Contributors should adhere to our [commit message guidelines](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QrDFcIiPjSLDn3EL15IJygNPiHORgU1_OOAqWjiDU5Y/edit?pli=1).
-
-The goal is to achive better readability of the projects commit log and eventually use the log as a low level change tracker.
-
-```plain
-feat(context-pad): add delete button
-fix(modeling): assign valid semantic ids
-fix(Viewer): correctly fire imported event
-fix(core): handle missing BPMNPlane during import
-```
-
-It is important for [semantic versioning](http://semver.org/) during releases and for project change tracking.
-
-
-## General Syntax
-
-```plain
-<what>(<component>): <present-tense-description>
-
-<longer-description>
-
-Closes #<issue-number>
-
-[BREAKING CHANGE:
-
-* migration notes ]
-```
-
-
-## Hints
-
-Consider the following hints when writing commit messages
-
-* Classify what you did
-
-   * `fix` commit fixes a bug, patches the project
-   * `feat` commit adds a feature, increases the minor version
-   * `docs` commit improves or adds documentation
-   * `refactor` commit cleans up mess in a non-api-breaking manner
-
-* State the module your change applies to
-
-   * `viewer` commit changes viewer code
-   * `context-pad` commit alters context pad
-   * `modeling/BpmnFactory` commit fixes a specific bug in the `BpmnFactory` (use in rare important cases only)
-   * use lower case for modules, camelCase for files (according to file names)
-
-* beware of public api (everything that has been blogged about on [bpmn.io](http://bpmn.io/blog))
-
-  * mark breaking public api via `BREAKING CHANGE: ...`
-
-* try not to swallow bug fixes (`fix`) in feature commits (`feat`). People may wait for a fixes forever.
-
-
-## Examples
-
-```plain
-feat(modeler): add create diagram option
-
-This commit adds the ability to create a new diagram in the modeler via
-
-Modeler#createDiagram(done)
-
-Related to #12
-```
-
-
-```plain
-fix(modeling): generate valid semantic ids
-
-IDs in XML documents must not start with a number as per XML spec.
-
-This commit changes our id generation behavior to use semantic ids that
-are prefixed with the elements type (never starts with a number):
-
-Before: asdas123se8as
-Now: StartEvent_asdas123se8as
-
-Closes #108
-```