diff --git a/pmd/rulesets/xml/basic.xml b/pmd/rulesets/xml/basic.xml
index 4728e691ed..fb72dfcce2 100644
--- a/pmd/rulesets/xml/basic.xml
+++ b/pmd/rulesets/xml/basic.xml
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ An XML CDATA section begins with a <!CDATA[ marker, which has only one [, and
      </description>
      <priority>3</priority>
      <properties>
-         <property name="version" value="2.0" />
          <property name="xpath">
              <value>
  <![CDATA[