ARTICLE · 08 NOVEMBER 2023

Market Intelligence Thought Leadership Award Winner

Software As A Service (SaaS) vs Software Licensing

Logan & Partners

Explore more from Logan & Partners

Software as a Service (SaaS) agreements and software license agreements are both legal contracts that govern the use of software, but they have distinct differences in terms of their scope...

SwitzerlandIntellectual Property

Author LinkedIn connections

Software as a Service (SaaS) agreements and software license agreements are both legal contracts that govern the use of software, but they have distinct differences in terms of their scope, terms, and how software is provided to users. Here are the main differences between these two types of agreements:

1. Delivery Model:

SaaS Agreement: In a SaaS agreement, the software is not installed on the user's local device or server. Instead, it is hosted and operated by the provider on their servers, and users access it over the internet. Users typically pay a subscription fee for ongoing access to the software.

Software License Agreement: A software license agreement allows users to install and use the software on their own local devices or servers. Users typically purchase a license for the software, which grants them the right to use it under certain terms and conditions.

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

Related Articles

Where Does The Real IP Value Lie In AI-Enabled Life Sciences?

SwitzerlandIntellectual Property

Rebranding – When Brands Get A New Face

SwitzerlandIntellectual Property

Switzerland Steps Up: Federal Patent Court Affirms Cross-border Reach In Patent Litigation

SwitzerlandIntellectual Property

Lenz & Staehelin

Zwitserland: wanneer zijn medische producten en diensten soortgelijk?

SwitzerlandIntellectual Property

Novagraaf Netherlands BV

Suisse : produits médicaux et services médicaux en droit des marques

SwitzerlandIntellectual Property

Novagraaf Netherlands BV

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

Comparative Guide

Franchise & Licensing

Comparative Guide

Intellectual Property

Comparative Guide

Patent Litigation

Comparative Guide

Trademark Disputes

See more popular content from

Intellectual Property

Bern Commercial Court Clarifies Swissness Requirements Allowing The Use Of The Designation "Swiss" As Indication Of Source For Services

In its judgement of 26 August 2025, the Bern Commercial Court ruled that BDSwiss AG, a global financial services provider with its registered office in Zug, must remove "Swiss" from its company...

SwitzerlandIntellectual Property

Bär & Karrer Ltd.

Switzerland Steps Up: Federal Patent Court Affirms Cross-border Reach In Patent Litigation

The Swiss Federal Patent Court has delivered a landmark ruling confirming Switzerland's role as a powerful forum for cross-border patent enforcement, establishing that claims for infringement of foreign patent designations...

SwitzerlandIntellectual Property

Lenz & Staehelin

TRANSFER PRICING IN SWITZERLAND

SwitzerlandIntellectual Property

Pricewaterhouse Coopers

Part 10: Copyright And AI: Responsibility Of Providers And Users

Most people who regularly work with digital devices have already used AI applications to generate output - for example, a title for a blog post.

SwitzerlandIntellectual Property

Working With Freelancers On Platforms – Who Owns The Copyright?

There are now many on-line platforms like Upwork and Fiverr where you can hire freelancers for a variety of different services.

SwitzerlandIntellectual Property

Logan & Partners

Where Does The Real IP Value Lie In AI-Enabled Life Sciences?

As AI becomes embedded in life sciences R&D, companies face a critical strategic question: where does the real intellectual property value lie in their AI-enabled technologies? The answer increasingly points beyond the AI model itself to the complete technology architecture—encompassing data provenance, workflow integration, and the technical interfaces between software, biology, and physical processes.

SwitzerlandIntellectual Property

Design Laws And Regulations 2022

The Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IPI) is the relevant design authority in Switzerland.

SwitzerlandIntellectual Property

Rebranding – When Brands Get A New Face

In today’s business world, brand identity is crucial for a company’s success. It represents the values, quality, and trust that customers associate with a company. But markets, trends, and target groups change, and sometimes it is not enough to maintain the existing brand image. This is where rebranding comes in - a strategic process in which a brand is given a new appearance or a new positioning.

SwitzerlandIntellectual Property

Source Code Escrow

SwitzerlandIntellectual Property

Niederer Kraft Frey AG

A Note Of Caution To Internet Players: Banal Photographs Now Enjoy Copyright Protection In Switzerland

The newly revised Swiss Act on Copyright and Neighbouring Rights (the "Copyright Act") came into force on 1 April 2020. The revised Copyright Act introduces among other ...

SwitzerlandIntellectual Property