Licensing is a crucial aspect in the commercialisation of
intellectual property. However, we frequently come across
agreements, from both big and small firms, as well as local and
international, that provide for a “sole &
exclusive” licence.
To clarify, there is no such thing as a “sole &
exclusive” licence.
Now that we have gotten that out of the way, let's dive into
the three main types of licences and what they mean.
- Sole Licence
A sole license grants the licensee the right to use the
intellectual property to the exclusion of other third parties, but
the licensor retains the right to use it as well. This type of
license is often misunderstood, as it is sometimes confused with
exclusive licenses. However, it's important to note that a sole
license does not prevent the licensor from using the intellectual
property themselves.
