n8n has transitioned from its previous Apache 2.0 with Commons Clause license to a new Sustainable Use License to address ambiguities and enhance clarity on permissible uses while supporting a sustainable business model. The new license restricts software use to internal business purposes, clarifying previous limitations on selling the software, and lifts restrictions on charging fees for consulting or support services related to n8n. This change reflects a growing trend among companies to create custom licenses to balance open-source benefits with commercial viability, as seen with other organizations like MongoDB and Elastic. The Sustainable Use License aims to establish a new standard in fair-code licensing, ensuring free use, extensibility, and open-source availability, yet maintaining commercial restrictions. This approach seeks to protect the value created by open-source projects from being solely monetized by external entities without benefiting the original developers, thereby enabling continued development and support.