diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index 8f4fb1fa0e1..b48a978ed53 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -23,36 +23,10 @@
 
     <properties>
         <license.basedir combine.self="override">${project.basedir}</license.basedir>
+        <elasticsearch.license.header>${license.basedir}/dev-tools/license/elasticsearch_license_header.txt</elasticsearch.license.header>
+        <elasticsearch.license.headerDefinition>${license.basedir}/dev-tools/license/license_header_definition.xml</elasticsearch.license.headerDefinition>
     </properties>
 
-    <build>
-        <plugins>
-            <plugin>
-                <groupId>com.mycila</groupId>
-                <artifactId>license-maven-plugin</artifactId>
-                <version>2.5</version>
-                <configuration>
-                    <header>${license.basedir}/dev-tools/license/elasticsearch_license_header.txt</header>
-                    <headerDefinitions>
-                        <headerDefinition>${license.basedir}/dev-tools/license/license_header_definition.xml</headerDefinition>
-                    </headerDefinitions>
-                    <includes>
-                        <include>**/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/**/*.java</include>
-                        <include>**/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/**/*.java</include>
-                    </includes>
-                </configuration>
-                <executions>
-                    <execution>
-                        <phase>compile</phase>
-                        <goals>
-                            <goal>check</goal>
-                        </goals>
-                    </execution>
-                </executions>
-            </plugin>
-        </plugins>
-    </build>
-
     <repositories>
         <repository>
             <id>oss-snapshots</id>