diff --git a/includes/class-widget.php b/includes/class-widget.php
index 91742f3..e833146 100644
--- a/includes/class-widget.php
+++ b/includes/class-widget.php
@@ -45,8 +45,6 @@ public function widget( $args, $instance ) {
 
 		$using_license = isset( REPUBLICATION_TRACKER_TOOL_LICENSES[ $license_key ] );
 
-		$license_statement = get_option( 'republication_tracker_tool_policy' );
-
 		// our post `republication-tracker-tool-hide-widget` meta is our default filter value
 		$hide_republication_widget_on_post = apply_filters( 'hide_republication_widget', get_post_meta( $post->ID, 'republication-tracker-tool-hide-widget', true ), $post );
 
@@ -96,8 +94,6 @@ public function widget( $args, $instance ) {
 			);
 		}
 
-		echo "<div class=\"message\">$license_statement</div>";
-
 		echo '</div>';
 
 		echo sprintf(