# release

URL: /business/nouns/human/release · Id: `verb:Human.release` · Call: `await $.Human.release({ … })` (SDK) or the `do` tool at `https://api.sb/mcp`. Inputs says what to pass, Outputs what returns, When it waits who approves.

> Release frees a held amount for payout once its Dispute closes or its clearance period ends.

Release frees a held amount for payout once its [Dispute](/business/nouns/dispute) closes or its clearance period ends.

## Inputs
| Input | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `human` | [Human](/business/nouns/human) | Yes | The payee. |
| `cause` | `string` | Yes | The Order or Dispute whose hold ends. |

## Outputs
| Output | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `human` | [Human](/business/nouns/human) | Yes | The payee, with the hold removed. |

## Effects
- Emits [`Human.released`](/business/events/Human.released).
- Performed by the [Billing Specialist](/agents/finance/billing-specialist).
- Two-way: it runs at once, in the `try`, `send` and `do` modes.
- A lost Dispute releases nothing: the held amount returns to the Customer instead.

## Refuses when
| Check | Error | Fix | Then call |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| The key is valid, but its scopes do not allow this operation. | [`forbidden`](/code/api/errors/forbidden) | Use a key whose scopes cover the operation, or ask an owner of the namespace to grant them. | [Human.release](/business/nouns/human/release) |

## When it waits
| Gate | Default |
| --- | --- |
| Decision class | Low: two-way, nothing at stake |
| [Delay window](/systems/trust-and-governance/controls/one-way-windows) | None: it runs once review passes. |
| Limit | The call [Limit](/business/nouns/limit) of the [Permission](/business/nouns/permission) it runs under. |
| Over the Limit | It waits `pending` for an [Approval](/business/nouns/approval) from the [Founder](/agents/founding/founder). Approved, it runs; refused, it ends `refused` with [`limit-exceeded`](/code/api/errors/limit-exceeded); unanswered by its deadline, it ends `canceled`. |

## Example

**Ask**

```text
Release Tomas Berg.
```

**API**

```bash
curl -X POST https://api.sb/kilnbakery.com/humans/human_1/release \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $STARTUP_BUILDER_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"cause":"Example cause"}'
```

```json
{
  "api": "https://api.sb/kilnbakery.com",
  "human": {
    "$id": "https://api.sb/kilnbakery.com/humans/human_1",
    "$type": "Human",
    "name": "Tomas Berg",
    "email": "tomas@kilnbakery.com"
  },
  "action": {
    "$id": "https://api.sb/kilnbakery.com/actions/action_1",
    "operation": "Human.release",
    "status": "done"
  },
  "links": {
    "self": "https://api.sb/kilnbakery.com/actions/action_1"
  }
}
```

**SDK**

```ts
import { $ } from 'startup-builder'

const human = await $.Human.release({ human: 'human_1', cause: 'Example cause' })
```

**CLI**

```bash
npx startup-builder do Human.release --json '{"human":"human_1","cause":"Example cause"}'
```

**MCP**

```json
{
  "name": "do",
  "arguments": {
    "code": "return await $.Human.release({ human: 'human_1', cause: 'Example cause' })"
  }
}
```