SimpleBLE is available under the Business Source License 1.1 (BUSL-1.1).
This means that the project is free to use for non-commercial purposes, but requires a commercial license for production or commercial use. Each version of SimpleBLE will convert to the GNU General Public License version 3 after four years of its initial release.
Change Date: The fourth anniversary of the first publicly available distribution of a specific version of SimpleBLE under this License.
Change License: GNU General Public License version 3.0 (GPL-3.0)
Non-Commercial Perpetual Use Grant: After the Change Date, non-commercial users (individuals, hobbyists, educational institutions, and revenue-free open-source projects) are granted perpetual rights to use this specific version under the original BUSL-1.1 terms, notwithstanding the automatic conversion to GPL-3.
If you have any questions regarding licensing, please email us or leave us a message on our website.
I would like to use SimpleBLE commercially, and don't have a commercial license. What should I do?
Please email us or leave us a message on our website and we can discuss the specifics of your situation. We have a free commercial license option for small projects and early-stage companies and very flexible commercial licensing options for larger projects.
I already have a commercial license. Do any Business Source License 1.1 terms affect me?
No, you are only bound to the terms of the commercial license you hold. The Business Source License 1.1 terms only apply to users who do not have a commercial license.
What exactly can I do with SimpleBLE for free under non-commercial use?
The Business Source License 1.1 (BUSL-1.1) allows free non-commercial use of the software, including copying, modifying, creating derivatives, redistributing, and non-production activities like development, testing, or personal/hobby projects. For purely non-commercial scenarios with no financial gain, these rights are available without needing extra permission.
What does the Business Source License 1.1 allow and restrict?
The Business Source License allows non-production use, such as development and testing in isolated environments. However, any use that could be considered production (including internal tools, revenue-generating projects, or customer-facing deployments) requires purchasing a commercial license.
After four years of the initial release of a given version of SimpleBLE, the license automatically converts to the GNU General Public License version 3.
For details on what counts as free non-commercial use and distribution requirements, see the FAQs below.
Can I include SimpleBLE in my own open-source project and release it under MIT/Apache/BSD?
When distributing any version that includes SimpleBLE code (whether unchanged, modified, or as part of a larger project), downstream users must include the full BUSL-1.1 license text prominently with their distribution and ensure that the SimpleBLE portion remains under the same BUSL terms for recipients.
This applies even if your overall project uses a permissive license like MIT or Apache. The SimpleBLE code cannot be re-licensed to recipients under MIT/Apache alone. Recipients must still receive the SimpleBLE portion under BUSL-1.1 (typically by including the BUSL license file and any required notices).
After the Change Date, GPL-3.0 rules apply for everyone except qualifying non-commercial users, who may continue using and distributing under the original BUSL-1.1 terms per the Non-Commercial Perpetual Use Grant.
What does the "Non-Commercial Perpetual Use Grant" mean?
After the Change Date (four years after a version's release), that version automatically converts to GPL-3.0 for everyone. However, purely non-commercial users (individuals, hobbyists, educational institutions, and revenue-free open-source projects) may continue using that specific version indefinitely under the original BUSL-1.1 terms instead of switching to GPL-3.0.
This means you can keep the more permissive BUSL-style rights (e.g., no requirement to license your derivatives under GPL) as long as your use remains strictly non-commercial.
What do you consider "commercial use"?
Commercial use in the context of SimpleBLE refers to any usage of the library or its derivatives in a commercial setting where it contributes, either directly or indirectly, to financial gain. This includes, but is not limited to, incorporating SimpleBLE into commercial software products, using it in the development of services offered for a fee, or deploying it within internal tools or software in a for-profit organization where it adds business value.
Why do I need to pay for commercial use?
Commercial licensing enables us to sustainably maintain and enhance SimpleBLE, particularly given its growing adoption in critical sectors like medical and industrial applications. The revenue from commercial licenses allows us to provide robust support, maintain compatibility with evolving underlying APIs, and invest in improvements that benefit all users. This includes expanded language support, better testing infrastructure, and more comprehensive documentation. While SimpleBLE remains freely available for non-commercial use, the Business Source License ensures we can continue providing the level of reliability and support that commercial applications require.
License text copyright © 2017 MariaDB Corporation Ab, All Rights Reserved. "Business Source License" is a trademark of MariaDB Corporation Ab.
The Licensor hereby grants you the right to copy, modify, create derivative works, redistribute, and make non-production use of the Licensed Work. The Licensor may make an Additional Use Grant, above, permitting limited production use.
Effective on the Change Date, or the fourth anniversary of the first publicly available distribution of a specific version of the Licensed Work under this License, whichever comes first, the Licensor hereby grants you rights under the terms of the Change License, and the rights granted in the paragraph above terminate.
If your use of the Licensed Work does not comply with the requirements currently in effect as described in this License, you must purchase a commercial license from the Licensor, its affiliated entities, or authorized resellers, or you must refrain from using the Licensed Work.
All copies of the original and modified Licensed Work, and derivative works of the Licensed Work, are subject to this License. This License applies separately for each version of the Licensed Work and the Change Date may vary for each version of the Licensed Work released by Licensor.
You must conspicuously display this License on each original or modified copy of the Licensed Work. If you receive the Licensed Work in original or modified form from a third party, the terms and conditions set forth in this License apply to your use of that work.
Any use of the Licensed Work in violation of this License will automatically terminate your rights under this License for the current and all other versions of the Licensed Work.
This License does not grant you any right in any trademark or logo of Licensor or its affiliates (provided that you may use a trademark or logo of Licensor as expressly required by this License).
TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE LICENSED WORK IS PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" BASIS. LICENSOR HEREBY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES AND CONDITIONS, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING (WITHOUT LIMITATION) WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, AND TITLE.
Please email us or leave us a message on our website if you would like to purchase a commercial license or would like more information.