PHP License

The PHP License is the software license under which the PHP scripting language is released. The PHP License is a non-copyleft free software license according to the Free Software Foundation^[1] and an open source license according to the Open Source Initiative.^[2] The license is GPL-incompatible due to restrictions on the usage of the term PHP.^[1]

Terms

The PHP License is designed to encourage widespread adoption of the source code. Redistribution is permitted in source or binary form with or without modifications provided that:

1. The PHP License copyright statement is included;
2. The word "PHP" is not included in the title of any derivative works;
3. The following acknowledgment is included in whatever form the code is redistributed under:

This product includes PHP software, freely available from <http://www.php.net/software/>

Version 3 of PHP used a dual license—PHP 3's source is available under either the PHP License or the GNU General Public License (GPL). This practice was discontinued as of PHP 4, with PHP's developers citing the restrictions on reuse associated with the GPL's copyleft enforcement as being the reason for dropping it.^[3]

License

-------------------------------------------------------------------- 
                  The PHP License, version 3.01
Copyright (c) 1999 - 2015 The PHP Group. All rights reserved.
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
modification, is permitted provided that the following conditions
are met:

  1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
     notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
 
  2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
     notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in
     the documentation and/or other materials provided with the
     distribution.
 
  3. The name "PHP" must not be used to endorse or promote products
     derived from this software without prior written permission. For
     written permission, please contact group@php.net.
  
  4. Products derived from this software may not be called "PHP", nor
     may "PHP" appear in their name, without prior written permission
     from group@php.net.  You may indicate that your software works in
     conjunction with PHP by saying "Foo for PHP" instead of calling
     it "PHP Foo" or "phpfoo"
 
  5. The PHP Group may publish revised and/or new versions of the
     license from time to time. Each version will be given a
     distinguishing version number.
     Once covered code has been published under a particular version
     of the license, you may always continue to use it under the terms
     of that version. You may also choose to use such covered code
     under the terms of any subsequent version of the license
     published by the PHP Group. No one other than the PHP Group has
     the right to modify the terms applicable to covered code created
     under this License.

  6. Redistributions of any form whatsoever must retain the following
     acknowledgment:
     "This product includes PHP software, freely available from
     <http://www.php.net/software/>".

THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE PHP DEVELOPMENT TEAM ``AS IS'' AND 
ANY EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A 
PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED.  IN NO EVENT SHALL THE PHP
DEVELOPMENT TEAM OR ITS CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, 
INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES 
(INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR 
SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION)
HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT,
STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE)
ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED
OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.

Zend Engine License

While most of PHP is under the PHP License, most of the Zend Engine is under the similar Zend Engine License:

 --------------------------------------------------------------------
                 The Zend Engine License, Version 2.00
 Copyright (c) 1999-2006 Zend Technologies Ltd. All rights reserved.
 --------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
 modification, is permitted provided that the following conditions
 are met:
 
   1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
      notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
 
   2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above
      copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following
      disclaimer in the documentation and/or other materials provided
      with the distribution.
 
   3. The names "Zend" and "Zend Engine" must not be used to endorse
      or promote products derived from this software without prior
      permission from Zend Technologies Ltd. For written permission,
      please contact license@zend.com.
 
   4. Zend Technologies Ltd. may publish revised and/or new versions
      of the license from time to time. Each version will be given a
      distinguishing version number.
      Once covered code has been published under a particular version
      of the license, you may always continue to use it under the
      terms of that version. You may also choose to use such covered
      code under the terms of any subsequent version of the license
      published by Zend Technologies Ltd. No one other than Zend
      Technologies Ltd. has the right to modify the terms applicable
      to covered code created under this License.
 
   5. Redistributions of any form whatsoever must retain the following
      acknowledgment:
      "This product includes the Zend Engine, freely available at
      http://www.zend.com"
 
   6. All advertising materials mentioning features or use of this
      software must display the following acknowledgment:
      "The Zend Engine is freely available at http://www.zend.com"
 
 THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY ZEND TECHNOLOGIES LTD. ``AS IS'' AND
 ANY EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
 THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A
 PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL ZEND
 TECHNOLOGIES LTD. BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
 SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT
 LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF
 USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND
 ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY,
 OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT
 OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF
 SUCH DAMAGE.
 
 --------------------------------------------------------------------

Debian packaging controversy

Debian maintainers have had a long-standing discussion (since at least 2005) about the validity of the PHP license.^[4] Expressed concerns include that the license "contains statements about the software it covers that are specific to distributing PHP itself", which, for other software than PHP itself therefore would be "false statements".

See also

• Apache License

References

External links

• Official PHP License Information