Serve updates with EDD for free downloads

functions.php

<?php
class EDD_Updates_Without_Licenses {

    public function __construct() {
      $this->hooks();
    }

    public function hooks() {

      add_filter( 'edd_sl_id_license_match', array( $this, 'check_free_license' ), 10, 4 );

      add_filter( 'edd_sl_generate_license_key', array( $this, 'generate_free_license_key' ), 10, 5 );
    }

    /**
     * Checks for free license and create license
     */
    public function check_free_license( $license_match, $download_id, $license_download, $license_key ) {

      // Is the download free?
      $download = edd_get_download( $download_id );

      if ( $download->is_free() ) {

        // Check if license exists.
        $license = edd_software_licensing()->get_license( 'free-download', true );

        if ( ! $license ) {

          // This code will just run once, ever.
          // I just don't want it to be a manual action.

          // First get a customer.
          $customer = new EDD_Customer( '[email protected]' );
          if ( ! $customer->id ) {
            // Create a new customer
            $customer = new EDD_Customer();
            $customer->create( array(
              'name'  => 'Free Downloads',
              'email' => '[email protected]',
            ) );
          }

          // Now the payment.
          $payments = $customer->payment_ids;

          if ( ! empty( $payments ) ) {
            $payment_ids = explode( ',', $payments );
            $payment_id  = reset( $payment_ids );
            $payment     = new EDD_Payment( $payment_id );
          } else {
            $payment         = new EDD_Payment();
            $payment->email  = '[email protected]';
            $payment->status = 'complete';
            $payment->save();
          }

          // Finally create the license
          $license = new EDD_SL_License();
          $license->create( 782, $payment->ID, false, 0, array(
            'activation_limit' => 0,
            'is_lifetime'      => 0
          ) );

        }

        return true;

      }
    }

    /**
     * When generating a free license, set the key.
     */
    public function generate_free_license_key( $key, $license_id, $download_id, $payment_id, $cart_index ) {
      $customer    = new EDD_Customer( '[email protected]' );
      $payments    = $customer->payment_ids;
      $payment_ids = explode( ',', $payments );

      if ( in_array( $payment_id, $payment_ids ) ) {
        $key = 'free-download';
      }

      return $key;
    }
  }