# License

Source: https://contracko.com/fr/glossaire/licence

# License

Permission to use intellectual property under defined conditions without transferring ownership.

## Définition

A license grants permission to use protected intellectual property (such as software, content, or a trademark) while ownership stays with the licensor. Licenses are defined by scope: exclusive or non-exclusive, territory, duration, permitted uses, and whether sublicensing is allowed. Breaching the scope can be both a contract breach and an act of IP infringement.

## Exemple

> A SaaS contract grants a non-exclusive, non-transferable license to use the software for the customer's internal business only.

## Pourquoi c'est un risque pour l'entreprise

Using licensed IP outside the permitted scope, whether in a different territory, for an extra purpose, or by sublicensing without permission, can be both a contract breach and an act of infringement. Companies that grow through acquisition or group restructuring often inadvertently violate license scope restrictions that were never updated.

## Comment le gérer

- Map the exact scope of each key license: territory, duration, permitted uses, exclusivity, and sublicensing rights.
- Check at each business event (acquisition, new product, new geography) whether existing licenses cover the new use case.
- Track license expiry dates with reminders so you do not unknowingly operate after a license has expired.

### Comment Contracko aide

Contracko extracts license scope, territory, and expiry from contracts and tracks them as obligations with smart reminders. When a license is approaching expiry or a business change is being considered, the AI review surfaces the relevant scope restrictions so your team can assess coverage before acting.

## Pertinent pour

[Logiciels & SaaS](https://contracko.com/fr/secteurs/logiciel-saas)[Musique](https://contracko.com/fr/secteurs/industrie-musicale)[Gaming & esport](https://contracko.com/fr/secteurs/jeux-video-esport)[Cinéma & TV](https://contracko.com/fr/secteurs/cinema-television)

## Clauses associées

- [License Grant Clause](https://contracko.com/fr/bibliotheque-de-clauses/concession-de-licence)
- [Intellectual Property Clause](https://contracko.com/fr/bibliotheque-de-clauses/propriete-intellectuelle)
- [Assignment Clause](https://contracko.com/fr/bibliotheque-de-clauses/cession-de-droits)

## Termes associés

- [Intellectual property](https://contracko.com/fr/glossaire/propriete-intellectuelle)
- [Assignment](https://contracko.com/fr/glossaire/cession)
- [Confidential information](https://contracko.com/fr/glossaire/informations-confidentielles)

### Ne manquez plus jamais une échéance de contrat

- L'IA repère les dates de renouvellement et de préavis
- Les risques et obligations sont mis en évidence automatiquement
- Les rappels vous aident à agir avant que les dates ne filent

Déposez un contrat pour commencer

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Conforme au RGPD. Chiffré. Jamais utilisé pour l'entraînement de l'IA.

## Foire aux questions

Questions courantes sur ce terme.

- **Q:** What is the difference between an exclusive and non-exclusive license?
  **A:** An exclusive license means even the licensor cannot grant the same rights to others (and sometimes cannot use them itself); a non-exclusive license can be granted to many users at once.

- **Q:** Can a license be transferred to another company?
  **A:** Only if the contract permits it. Non-transferable licenses are common in SaaS and software; a change of control or corporate restructuring may technically violate them unless a carve-out is included.

- **Q:** What happens when a license expires?
  **A:** All licensed rights revert to the licensor. Continued use after expiry is infringement, not merely breach of contract. Renewal should be negotiated before expiry, not after.

- **Q:** Can a licensor terminate a license if the licensee breaches its terms?
  **A:** Yes, if the contract provides a termination-for-cause right. For serious breaches (e.g. using the IP outside the licensed scope), the licensor may also have a statutory right to dissolve the license agreement.

- **Q:** Is a software license a sale or a service?
  **A:** It depends on the model. A perpetual license for a one-time fee is closer to a sale; a subscription (SaaS) is a service with ongoing obligations on both sides. The distinction matters for accounting, tax, and the applicable legal rules.

## Voyez ces termes dans vos propres contrats

Téléversez un contrat et Contracko en extrait les termes, dates et obligations clés, puis vous rappelle chacun d'eux avant qu'il ne compte.

[Démarrer l'essai gratuit de 7 jours](https://app.contracko.com/register?appLanguage=fr)

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