Couchbase has switched its source code license for Couchbase Server 7 from Apache 2.0 to the Business Source License (BSL) 1.1, a move aimed at balancing the control over commercialization and the transparency afforded by source availability. The BSL 1.1, first introduced by the founders of MySQL and MariaDB, allows for copying, modification, and redistribution but limits production use unless specified by the licensor, with a change date after which the license converts to a more permissive open-source license. Couchbase has set this change date to four years, after which the license will revert to Apache 2.0. This decision reflects a strategic approach to safeguard its economic model and ensure sustainable growth while maintaining market integrity and support quality. The license change aligns with the release of Couchbase 7, featuring new capabilities that could encourage third-party commercialization. The shift is expected to minimally disrupt the community, as it primarily affects those intending to use Couchbase 7's source code for commercial derivative works. Despite the BSL not being an official open-source license, Couchbase continues to contribute to the open-source ecosystem by licensing a significant portion of its code under open-source licenses.