If they distribute it with the version number removed then it would be a violation of the EULA. you are allowed to modify the php, but not allowed to distribute again unless in its original format. ofcourse the footer requires the creators name in it, but the version number is changeable, such as if you do a mod for vBulletin and include a footer such as:
Powered by vBulletin® CPD© Version 1.1.1
Copyright ©2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
© 2001-2008, Checkpointdelta.net
would be legal. look at PHP Nuke and see there is RavenNuke but it is PHP Nuke 7.6 with some extra addons and more secure.
anyway as long as the original info on the footer is available such as who made it, no lawyer is going to touch it because it was free to begin with And EULA's are a legal joke for freeware and free web portals, most are in a readme file and not part of an install package.
Oh another thing is these web portals and forums that are free, use the open source license(GNU), if you modify it, a notation in the file's header is there with the original makers name and other info. this must be left there but can have more added, such as example and index for vBulletin:
Code:
/***************************************************************************
* index.php
* -------------------
* begin : Saturday, Feb 13, 2001
* copyright : (C) 2001 The phpBB Group
* email : support@phpbb.com
*
* Id: index.php,v 1.99.2.3 2004/07/11 16:46:15 acydburn Exp
*
* modified by 1 drunk guy
* version 1.1.1
* email: 1drunkguy@drunkguys.com.
***************************************************************************/
/***************************************************************************
*
* This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
* it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
* the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
* (at your option) any later version.
*
***************************************************************************