FAQ for Commercial Use of dbNSFP

What is the definition of commercial use for dbNSFP ?

1. Any use within a for-profit organization

2. Use within any organization (including non-profits) where dbNSFP is incorporated into products or services that are sold or monetized

   • Commercial use example: Diagnosis and treatment for patients in a public hospital

   • Non-commercial use example: Research or training in a public hospital

If you are not sure if your use of dbNSFP requires a commercial license, please contact license@dbnsfp.org.

Can you provide us a quote for the commercial use license of dbNSFP in my project?

We provide a flat rate for the annual subscription of the commercial use of dbNSFP through our commercial license application. If you still need a formal quote for your specific needs, please contact license@dbnsfp.org.

Why are some scores present in the dbNSFP academic version but not in the commercial version (e.g. version 5.1a vs. 5.1c)?

Some scores in the dbNSFP academic version have individual licensing requirements for commercial use; therefore, we cannot include them in the dbNSFP commercial version. Please note that academic users are also responsible for complying with the individual licensing requirements of these scores when using them in the dbNSFP academic version.

If you already possess licenses for some scores included in the dbNSFP academic version but not available in the commercial version, we can make a customized dbNSFP commercial version by incorporating these scores for you. 

If you have any customization needs for the dbNSFP commercial version, please contact license@dbnsfp.org.

What are the differences between current release dbNSFP v5.1 and legacy versions (e.g. v4.x.x)?

1. We have re-built all potential non-synonymous and splicing-site SNVs based on the latest gene definitions in GENCODE Release 47 (October, 2024). In contrast, dbNSFP v4.x.x was built 7 years earlier based on GENCODE v29 (October, 2018). The updated GENCODE not only refined transcripts of known genes but also added novel protein-coding genes for non-synonymous and splicing-site SNVs determinations.

2. During this rebuild, we added new resources and updated all dbNSFP data sources to their current versions. Please check our Release for the latest and detailed changes in dbNSFP.

Is a commercial license required for legacy versions of dbNSFP (e.g. v4.x.x)?

As a courtesy to users of previous versions of dbNSFP, a commercial license is not required for the c-branch in legacy versions. 

However, we strongly encourage upgrading to the latest version, which provides the most updated annotations for nsSNVs in the human genome. Your commercial license fees will be used toward the ongoing development of the database and thus ensuring the long-term sustainability of dbNSFP.  The commercial use license subscribers will receive all updates at no additional cost during the license term.