A license is an agreement to allow someone to do something they would otherwise not be allowed to do under patent, trademark, copyright, or trade secret rights held by another entity. One common analogy is to real property, where one may be allowed to possess a house or apartment through a lease or rental contract rather than owning it.

A license may be one component in a business relationship or written agreement that may include prototype development, software development, manufacturing, distribution, and trademark agreements. Technology and trademark rights may be “licensed in” to allow product development, manufacturing, and distribution. Reversely, they can also be “licensed out” as part of a licensing program that “monetizes” intellectual property rights. Ownership of inventions and creative works created when individuals and companies work together is one component of a typical license that also describes the responsibilities and rights of each party.

Brooks Acordia IP Law, P.C. works with our clients to identify and protect their intellectual property rights at all stages of product life-cycle  from identification of their business partners to product development, manufacturing, and distribution, including their branding efforts.

Common licenses include:

• Technology and product development agreements
• Service and consulting agreements
• Software distribution agreements
• Trademark licensing agreements
• Manufacturing agreements
• Non-disclosure agreements
• Letters of intent
• Standards-based licensing agreements