Ross Patent Law Office
Specializing in Patents,
Trademarks and Copyrights
License Agreements
A license is a contractual right that gives someone permission to engage in a defined activity
or to use certain property that is owned by someone else. With regards to intellectual
property, a license allows the holder of intellectual property rights (the "licensor") to make
money from an invention or creative work by charging a user (the "licensee") a fee or
royalty to use the licensed product. A license agreement is written to protect the rights of
the parties.  The license agreement does not have to be long or complicated in order to be
enforceable.  

A license agreement can be either an exclusive license agreement or a non-exclusive license
agreement.  An exclusive license agreement is a legal document licensing an intellectual
property to another party for their exclusive use. This intellectual property cannot be
licensed to any other party for any use.  A non-exclusive license agreement is a legal
document licensing an intellectual property to another party for use in a defined field. This
intellectual property may also be licensed to additional parties.
Genius is one
percent inspiration
and ninety-nine
percent
perspiration... .

Thomas A. Edison