Plannotator License Guide
What You'll Learn
- Understand the license type and core terms used by Plannotator
- Identify which use cases are allowed and which are restricted
- Know the license change timeline
- Learn how to obtain commercial licensing or contact the licensor
What You Need to Know Now
Plannotator uses the Business Source License 1.1 (BSL) as its open source license. This is a special license designed to protect commercial value while eventually making the project fully open source.
Core Terms
License Type
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| License Name | Business Source License 1.1 (BSL) |
| Copyright Holder | backnotprop (2025) |
| Licensed Project | plannotator |
| Change Date | 2030-01-01 |
| License After Change | Apache License, Version 2.0 |
What is BSL?
Business Source License is a special license developed by MariaDB. It restricts certain commercial uses in the short term, but promises to convert the software to a fully open source license (like Apache 2.0) after a specific date. This model allows open source projects to obtain sustainable revenue during commercialization while ensuring long-term openness to the community.
Allowed Usage
According to BSL 1.1 terms, you may:
✅ Copy, modify, and create derivative works
- You can perform secondary development based on Plannotator
- You can modify source code to fit your needs
✅ Redistribute
- You can distribute original or modified versions
- Must retain original license notices
✅ Non-production use
- Internal development, testing, and evaluation
- Personal learning and research
Broad Internal Use for Individuals and Companies
BSL's definition of "non-production use" is broad, covering various scenarios for individuals and companies internally. You and your team members (including independent contractors) can freely use Plannotator for development, testing, and deployment.
Usage Restrictions (Important!)
Core Restriction: Plannotator may NOT be used for Planning, Context, or Approval Services.
What is "Planning, Context, or Approval Service"?
Any commercial product that allows third parties (other than employees and independent contractors) to access Plannotator functionality through direct or indirect operations belongs to restricted services. Specifically including but not limited to:
Cloud Service Providers
- SaaS platforms providing Plannotator functionality as part of their services
- Hosting service providers providing Plannotator to customers or subscribers
Infrastructure Services
- Data center service providers
- Cloud computing platform providers
Third Parties Offering Similar Services
- Any services provided by the above entities and their affiliates
Commercial Use Warning
If you plan to use Plannotator as part of a commercial service provided to third parties, you must obtain a commercial license in advance. Violating this clause will automatically terminate your rights to use current and all future versions of Plannotator.
License Change Timeline
| Time Node | License Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Current - 2030-01-01 | BSL 1.1 | Restricted open source license |
| From 2030-01-01 | Apache 2.0 | Fully open source, no commercial restrictions |
What Happens After the Change?
Starting January 1, 2030, Plannotator will automatically convert to Apache License 2.0. This means:
- ✅ All commercial restrictions will be removed
- ✅ Can be freely used for any commercial purpose
- ✅ Can be integrated into any SaaS service
- ✅ Complies with permissive open source license standards
Commercial License
If you need to use Plannotator without complying with BSL restrictions (e.g., for planning, context, or approval services), you can:
Purchase Commercial License
- Purchase from backnotprop or its authorized resellers
- Obtain usage rights not subject to BSL restrictions
Contact Licensor
- Email: backnotprop
- Explain your use case and requirements
FAQ
Can I use Plannotator within my company?
Yes. BSL explicitly allows you and your employees, independent contractors to use Plannotator for internal development, testing, and deployment. Restrictions only apply to scenarios where you provide services to third parties (non-employees and contractors).
Can I develop my own product based on Plannotator?
Yes, with conditions. If your product is:
- Internal tool: ✅ Allowed
- Personal project: ✅ Allowed
- Open source project: ✅ Allowed (retain BSL license)
- Commercial product: ❓ Need to assess whether it falls under "Planning, Context, or Approval Service"
My company is a SaaS provider, can we use it?
Commercial license required. If your SaaS product provides Plannotator functionality to customers (even as a feature), this belongs to restricted commercial service and you must purchase a commercial license.
Can I use Plannotator for any purpose after 2030?
Yes. From the change date onwards, Plannotator will use Apache 2.0 license, all commercial restrictions will be removed, and you can freely use it for any purpose.
Full License Text
For the complete Business Source License 1.1 text, please refer to the LICENSE file in the project root directory.
Contact Information
For commercial licensing or other questions, please contact:
- Licensor: backnotprop
- Project Repository: backnotprop/plannotator
Next Up
In the next lesson, we'll check Release Notes.
You'll see:
- Plannotator's version history
- New features and improvements in each version
- Important bug fixes
Appendix: Source Code Reference
Click to expand source code locations
Updated: 2026-01-24
| Feature | File Path | Line Number |
|---|---|---|
| License notice | README.md | 100-104 |
| Full license text | LICENSE | 1-115 |
Key Information:
- License type: Business Source License 1.1 (BSL)
- Copyright holder: backnotprop (c) 2025
- Change date: 2030-01-01
- License after change: Apache License, Version 2.0
- Main restriction: Not for planning, context, or approval services