A license is a legally binding agreement between a licensor and licensee that grants the licensee certain rights to use the licensed material. In publishing, a license is typically used to grant another party the right to print, distribute, and sell copies of a work. The terms of the license may specify how many copies can be made, how the work can be used, and for how long the license is valid.
Licenses can be exclusive or non-exclusive. An exclusive license means that the licensee is the only party with the right to use the licensed material in a particular way. A non-exclusive license means that the licensor retains the right to use the licensed material themselves, and can also grant other parties the right to use it.
There are many different types of licenses that can be used in publishing. The most common are print licenses, digital licenses, and syndication licenses.
A print license grants the licensee the right to print copies of the work and sell them to the public. The terms of the print license may specify how many copies can be made, and how the work can be used.
The purpose of a license is to give people the right to do something that they wouldn’t be able to do without the license. For example, a license might give someone the right to use a copyrighted song in a movie.
The term of a license is important because it sets the amount of time that a licensee has to use the licensed material. If the term is too short, the licensee may not have enough time to fully exploit the material. If the term is too long, the licensor may be unable to get the material back or may have to pay more to the licensee.