The founder of n8n, initially a part-time project, faced challenges in deciding on an appropriate licensing model due to concerns about the traditional open-source approach, which could allow others to profit from the project without contributing back. To address this, he adopted the Apache License version 2 with the Commons Clause, which restricts commercial use, although it sparked controversy as it did not align with the Open Source Initiative's (OSI) definition of open-source. This led to criticism and discussions about the appropriate terminology to describe such projects, resulting in the creation of the "fair-code" model, which allows free use and distribution of the source code but requires payment for commercial use. Fair-code aims to ensure financial sustainability for project maintainers while offering users free access and the assurance of ongoing project viability. Despite initial resistance, the concept of fair-code seeks to offer a balanced alternative to traditional open-source licensing by encouraging broader adoption and awareness.