def METHOD_NAME():
    """Read a file named 'params.json' in the current working directory.
    If the file does not exist, it copies the file 'params.json.template' to
    'params.json' and then reads the file.
    """
    if not os.path.exists("params.json"):
        copyfile("params.json.template", "params.json")
    with open("params.json", "r") as json_file:
        return load(json_file)