{
  "question": "Can I use BUSL-1.1 (Business Source License) software in production?",
  "slug": "can-i-use-busl-1-1-software-in-production",
  "url": "https://www.rightshold.com/answers/can-i-use-busl-1-1-software-in-production",
  "short_answer": "Commercial production deployment: Needs review.",
  "framing": "The Business Source License 1.1 is source-available, not open source: production use is allowed only as the licensor's Additional Use Grant says, until the Change Date.",
  "checks": [
    {
      "label": "Commercial production deployment",
      "license": "BUSL-1.1",
      "license_name": "Business Source License 1.1",
      "intended_use": {
        "commercial_use": true,
        "deployment": true
      },
      "verdict": "needs_review",
      "answer": "Needs review",
      "findings": [
        "Production use depends on the Additional Use Grant this licensor wrote into its copy of the license, which differs from project to project. A reviewer should read that grant.",
        "Production deployment depends on the licensor's Additional Use Grant. A reviewer should read that grant and the Change Date for the version you use."
      ],
      "duties": [
        "license_notice",
        "keep_change_terms"
      ],
      "curation": "curated",
      "official_text": "https://mariadb.com/bsl11/"
    }
  ],
  "context": [
    "Every BUSL project sets its own Additional Use Grant and Change Date; read them in that project's LICENSE file. After the Change Date the code converts to the named Change License."
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "Business Source License 1.1",
      "url": "https://mariadb.com/bsl11/"
    }
  ],
  "check_it_yourself": {
    "mcp": {
      "tool": "check_license",
      "arguments": {
        "license": "BUSL-1.1",
        "intended_use": {
          "commercial_use": true,
          "deployment": true
        }
      }
    },
    "rest": "POST https://www.rightshold.com/v1/licenses/check"
  },
  "computed_from": "Rightshold license profiles at render time; not legal advice",
  "updated": "2026-10-23"
}