PHP 9.0 to Adopt BSD License: Unifying Open Source and Ending Licensing Confusion

As one of the most widely used open-source scripting languages in the world, PHP has long faced confusion and controversy surrounding its licensing model. The current PHP License and Zend Engine License contain unique provisions that render them incompatible with other open-source licenses, creating friction for developers and the broader community.

To address this issue, the PHP project team has introduced a new RFC proposal that aims to adopt a revised version of the BSD License—specifically, the 3-Clause BSD License—as the new licensing model, beginning with the upcoming release of PHP 9.0.

At its core, the proposal seeks to replace the existing PHP and Zend Engine licenses with a modified BSD License:

1. Work with the PHP Group to adopt the Modified BSD License as the PHP License, version 4.
2. Work with Perforce Software to adopt the Modified BSD License as the Zend Engine License, version 3.
3. Deprecate the PHP License and the Zend Engine License. Use of these licenses for new projects, inside or outside the PHP project, is strongly discouraged.
4. Delete the contents of the LICENSE file from the PHP software, and replace them with the contents indicated in the New LICENSE File section below.
5. Remove the Zend/LICENSE file from the Zend Engine.
6. Replace the file headers for all PHP source files in the PHP software with the contents indicated in the New PHP Source File Header section below.
7. Replace the file headers for all Zend Engine source files with the contents indicated in the New Zend Engine Source File Header section below.
8. Update other applicable documentation and web pages to reflect these changes, such as https://www.php.net/license/.

Also known as the “New BSD License” or “3-Clause License,” it contains the following principal conditions:

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. Neither the name of the copyright holder nor the names of its contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from this software without specific prior written permission.

This license is recognized by both the Open Source Initiative (OSI) and the Free Software Foundation (FSF) as a permissive free software license. The FSF further acknowledges its compatibility with the GNU General Public License (GPL).

The current PHP and Zend Engine licenses include provisions specific to the PHP Group and Zend Technologies (now a subsidiary of Perforce Software), such as restrictions on the use of the word “PHP,” which create compatibility issues with other open-source licenses.

By transitioning to the revised BSD License, the PHP project aims to eliminate unnecessary complexity, ensure compatibility with widely adopted licenses, and streamline the legal framework so that developers and users alike can more easily understand and comply with the terms.

What Will and Won’t Change:

• The rights granted by contributors do not change.
• The rights granted to users do not change.
• We will work with the PHP Group and Perforce Software to remove the terms that are specific to them.
• PHP software and the Zend Engine will be licensed under terms that are both OSI Approved and compatible with the GPL.

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