CockroachDB, originally an open source software, is shifting its licensing model to address challenges from major tech companies offering its product as a service. The company is adopting the Business Source License (BSL) to prevent commercial use of CockroachDB as a database-as-a-service (DBaaS) without a license, while allowing free use for other purposes. This license will initially restrict commercial DBaaS offerings for three years post-release, after which the code will revert to the Apache 2.0 open source license. The decision was made in response to competitors like Amazon, who have utilized open source software to create their own services, and aims to balance open source principles with business needs. CockroachDB's new license model will apply from version 19.2 onwards, with enterprise features continuing under a separate Cockroach Community License (CCL). Despite not being entirely open source during the three-year restriction period, the approach is intended to support an open core while ensuring business viability.