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noun

1. The approving of an action, especially when done by one in authority: allowance, approbation, approval, authorization, consent, endorsement, leave², permission, permit, sanction. Informal OK. See allow/prevent.
2. Proof of legal permission to do something: permit, warrant. Idioms: piece of paper. See allow/prevent, law.
3. Departure from normal rules or procedures: freedom, liberty. See restraint/unrestraint.
4. Excessive freedom; lack of restraint: dissoluteness, dissolution, libertinism, licentiousness, profligacy. See restraint/unrestraint.

verb

To give authority to: accredit, authorize, commission, empower, enable, entitle, qualify. See allow/prevent.

Definition: abandon, indulgence
Antonyms: reason, restriction

n

Definition: authority, permission
Antonyms: ban, prohibition, refusal, withholding

v

Definition: authorize, permit
Antonyms: ban, prohibit, refuse, restrict, withhold

A written document authorizing a person to perform specific acts, such as the construction or alteration of a building, or the installation, alteration, use, and/or operation of service equipment therein.

The permission granted by competent authority to exercise a certain privilege that, without such authorization, would constitute an illegal act, a trespass, or a tort. The certificate or the document itself that confers permission to engage in otherwise proscribed conduct.

A license is different from a permit. The terms license and permit are often used interchangeably, but generally, a permit describes a more temporary form of permission. For example, if a homeowner seeks to make structural additions to her property, she may have to apply for permits from local land-use and zoning boards. These permits expire on a certain date or when the work is finished. By contrast, the contractor who completes the work will likely hold a local license that allows her to operate her business for a certain number of years.

Licenses are an important and ubiquitous feature of contemporary society. Federal, state, and local governments rely on licensing to control a broad range of human activity, from commercial and professional to dangerous and environmental. Licenses may also be issued by private parties and by patent or copyright holders.

Government Licenses

The great many activities that require a license issued by a government authority include fishing; hunting; marrying; driving a motor vehicle; providing health care services; practicing law; manufacturing; engaging in retail and wholesale commerce; operating a private business, trade, or technical school; providing commercial services such as those offered by whitewater rafting outfitters and travel agencies; providing public services such as food and environmental inspection; and operating public pinball machines.

Not all persons engaged in a licensed activity need to obtain a license. For example, the owner of a liquor store must obtain a license to operate it, but the cashiers and stock persons need not obtain a license to work there. By contrast, not only does a dentist have to obtain a license to conduct business in a dental office, but dental hygienists and other dental assistants must have a license to work in the office.

A license gives a person or organization permission to engage in a particular activity. If the government requires a license for an activity, it may issue criminal charges if a person engages in the activity without obtaining a license. Most licenses expire after a certain period of time, and most may be renewed. Failure to abide by certain laws and regulations can result in suspension or revocation of a license. Acquiring a license through fraud or misrepresentation will result in revocation of the license.

Licenses are issued by theadministrative agencies of local, state, and federal lawmaking bodies. Administrative agencies are established by legislative bodies to regulate specific government activities and concerns. For example, the U.S. Congress and state legislatures have each created an agency that exercises authority over environmental issues. This agency usually is called a department of environmental protection or of conservation. It is responsible for issuing licenses for activities such as hunting, fishing, and camping. If the same agency has authority over environmental cleanups, it also may be responsible for issuing licenses for inspectors and businesses that specialize in waste management and removal. Specific boards or divisions within an agency may be responsible for issuing licenses.

The licensing process helps to control activity in a variety of ways. License application procedures allow government authorities to screen applicants to verify that they are fit to engage in the particular activity. Before any license is issued by an agency, the applicant must meet certain standards. For example, a person who seeks a driver's license must be at least age sixteen, must have passed a driver's test and a vision test, must show proof of insurance or financial responsibility, and must pay a fee. If an applicant is under age eighteen, the state department of motor vehicles may require that the applicant obtain the signature of a parent or guardian. If the applicant seeks to drive other than a passenger vehicle, such as a motorcycle or semi-truck, the applicant has to pass tests that relate to the driving of that vehicle and obtain a separate license for driving that vehicle.

The requirements for certain business licenses can be stringent. For example, an insurance adjuster in Maine must be at least eighteen years old; be competent, trustworthy, financially responsible, and of good personal and business reputation; pass a written examination on insurance adjusting; and have been employed or have undergone special training for not less than one year in insurance adjustment (Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 24-A, § 1853 [West 1995]). The insurance board can investigate any applicant for an insurance adjuster's license, and deny an applicant a license if he does not meet the qualifications.

Such rigorous licensing procedures are usually used if the activity places the license holder, or licensee, in a fiduciary relationship, that is, in a position of confidence and trust with other persons. Such activity usually involves the handling of money or health matters, and includes endeavors like medical care, legal representation, accounting, insurance, and financial investment.

Requiring a license for a certain activity allows the government to closely supervise and control the activity. The agency responsible for issuing the license can control the number of licensees. This is important for activities such as hunting, where the licensing of too many hunters may deplete wildlife populations and put hunters in danger of stray bullets.

A license is not a property right. This means that no one has the absolute right to a license. The government may decline to issue a license when it sees fit to do so, provided that the denial does not violate federal or state law. No agency may decline to issue a license on the basis of race, religion, sex, national origin, or ethnic background.

The denial of a license, the requirement of a license, or the procedures required to obtain a license may be challenged in court. The most frequent court challenges involve licenses pertaining to the operation of a business. This was the case in FW/PBS v. City of Dallas, 493 U.S. 215, 110 S. Ct. 596, 107 L. Ed. 2d 603 (1990). In FW/PBS three groups of individuals and businesses in the adult entertainment industry filed suit in federal district court challenging a new ordinance passed by the Dallas City Council. The ordinance placed a number of new restrictions on sexually oriented businesses. Among other things it required that owners of sexually oriented businesses obtain a license, renew it each year, and submit to annual inspections.

On appeal to the Supreme Court, the Court upheld a requirement that hotels renting rooms for less than ten hours obtain a special license. The Court held that the city of Dallas's evidence that such motels fostered prostitution and led to a deterioration of the neighborhoods in which they existed was adequate justification for the requirement. However, the Court struck down the application of the licensing requirement to businesses engaged in sexually oriented expression, such as adult bookstores, theaters, and cabarets. The activities of these businesses are protected by theFirst Amendment, and licenses regarding activity protected by the First Amendment must be issued promptly. The Dallas ordinance failed to meet the promptness requirement because it did not limit the time for review of license applications or provide for quick judicial review of license denials. Thus, the Court declared it unconstitutional as applied to businesses engaged in expressive activity.

Private Party Licenses

When a landowner allows a person to do work or perform an act on the landowner's property, the visitor has a license to enter the property. This kind of license need not be signed and formalized: it may be oral or it may be implied by the relationship or actions of the parties. For example, a public utility inspector has a license to enter private property for the purposes of maintaining the utility and gauging consumption. In such a case, the grantor of the license, or licensor, owes a duty to the licensee to make sure the premises are safe for the licensee.

Patent and Copyright Holder Licenses

A license granted by the holder of a patent or a copyright on literary or artistic work gives the license holder a limited right to reproduce, sell, or distribute the work. Likewise, the owner of atrademark may give another person a license to use the mark in a region where the owner's goods have not become known and associated with the owner's use of the mark. These intellectual property licenses usually require that the licensee pay a fee to the licensor in exchange for use of the property.

LearnThatWord.com is a free vocabulary and spelling program where you only pay for results!

The award of a license.

• poisons l. — registration of dealers so that the sources of poisons can be determined and controlled. A veterinarian's right to trade in substances which are of pharmacological benefit but are poisonous is ensured by appropriate scheduling in the legislation.
• professional l. — see licensure.
• radioactive materials l. — a license required in most countries for persons or institutions using radioactive materials of any sort. Granted only to persons who have had training in the subject.

Permission, accorded by a competent authority, granting the right to perform some act or acts that without such authorization would be contrary to law.

• Driving and Repair - license: driver’s license
• Decisions, Judgments, and Conditions - license: permissive right to do something granted by authority or by owner
• Commerce and Trade - license: legal right to use or sell another’s patented or copyrighted material
• Corporations and Business Practices - license: government permission to operate business
• Hunting Equipment - license: formal permission authorizing bearer to hunt in specified place or time or for specific game

For Wikipedia's licensing policy, see Wikipedia:Copyrights.

For the Aya Ueto album, see License (album).

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (April 2009)

Property law
Part of the common law series
Acquisition
Gift Adverse possession Deed Conquest Discovery Accession Lost, mislaid, and abandoned property Treasure trove Bailment License Alienation
Estates in land
Allodial title Fee simple Fee tail Life estate Defeasible estate Future interest Concurrent estate Leasehold estate Condominiums Real estate
Conveyancing
Bona fide purchaser Torrens title Strata title Estoppel by deed Quitclaim deed Mortgage Equitable conversion Action to quiet title Escheat
Future use control
Restraint on alienation Rule against perpetuities Rule in Shelley's Case Doctrine of worthier title
Nonpossessory interest
Easement Profit Covenant Equitable servitude
Related topics
Fixtures Waste Partition Riparian water rights Prior-appropriation water rights Lateral and subjacent support Assignment Nemo dat Conflict of property laws Blackacre
Other common law areas
Contract law Tort law Wills, trusts and estates Criminal law Evidence
v t e

Licensing of patents
Overviews
Licensing Royalties
Types
Compulsory licensing Cross-licensing Defensive Patent License Defensive termination Fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND, RAND) Shop right
Strategies
Catch and release Defensive patent aggregation Patentleft Patent monetization Patent pool Stick licensing
Clauses in patent licenses
Field-of-use limitation
v t e

The verb license or grant licence means to give permission. The noun license (American English) or licence (British English, Indian English, Canadian English, Australian English) refers to that permission as well as to the document recording that permission.

A license may be granted by a party ("licensor") to another party ("licensee") as an element of an agreement between those parties. A shorthand definition of a license is "an authorization (by the licensor) to use the licensed material (by the licensee)."

In particular a license may be issued by authorities, to allow an activity that would otherwise be forbidden. It may require paying a fee and/or proving a capability. The requirement may also serve to keep the authorities informed on a type of activity, and to give them the opportunity to set conditions and limitations.

Contents 1 Intellectual property 1.1 Mass licensing of software 1.2 Trademark and brand licensing 1.3 Artwork and character licensing 2 Academia 3 See also 4 References 5 External links 5.1 Wikibooks

Intellectual property

A licensor may grant a license under intellectual property laws to authorize a use (such as copying software or using a (patented) invention) to a licensee, sparing the licensee from a claim of infringement brought by the licensor.^[1] A license under intellectual property commonly has several component parts beyond the grant itself, including a term, territory, renewal provisions, and other limitations deemed vital to the licensor.

Term: many licenses are valid for a particular length of time. This protects the licensor should the value of the license increase, or market conditions change. It also preserves enforceability by ensuring that no license extends beyond the term of the agreement.

Territory: a license may stipulate what territory the rights pertain to. For example, a license with a territory limited to "North America" (Mexico/United States/Canada) would not permit a licensee any protection from actions for use in Japan.

A shorthand definition of license is "a promise by the licensor not to sue the licensee." That means without a license any use or exploitation of intellectual property by a third party would amount to copying or infringement. Such copying would be improper and could, by using the legal system, be stopped if the intellectual property owner wanted to do so. ^[2]

It is undeniable that intellectual property licensing plays a major role in today's business and economy. Business practices such as franchising, technology transfer, publication and character merchandising entirely depend on the licensing of intellectual property. Licensing has been recognised as an independent branch of law. It is born out of the interplay of the doctrine of contract and the principles of intellectual property.

Mass licensing of software

Main article: Software license agreement

Mass distributed software is used by individuals on personal computers under license from the developer of that software. Such license is typically included in a more extensive end-user license agreement (EULA) entered into upon the installation of that software on a computer. Typically, a license is associated with a unique code, that when approved grants the end user access to the software in question.

Under a typical end-user license agreement, the user may install the software on a limited number of computers.

The enforceability of end-user license agreements is sometimes questioned.

Trademark and brand licensing

A licensor may grant permission to a licensee to distribute products under a trademark. With such a license, the licensee may use the trademark without fear of a claim of trademark infringement by the licensor.

Artwork and character licensing

A licensor may grant a permission to a licensee to copy and distribute copyrighted works such as "art" (e.g., Thomas Kinkade's painting "Dawn in Los Gatos") and characters (e.g., Mickey Mouse). With such license, a licensee need not fear a claim of copyright infringement brought by the copyright owner.

Artistic license is, however, not related to the aforementioned license. It is a euphemism that denotes approaches in art works where dramatic effect is achieved at the expense of factual accuracy.

Academia

National examples of the License are listed at Licentiate

A licence is an academic degree. Originally, in order to teach at a university, one needed this degree which, according to its title, gave the bearer a licence to teach. The name survived despite the fact that nowadays a doctorate is typically needed in order to teach at a university. A person who holds a license is called a licentiate.

In Sweden, Finland, and in some other European university systems, a licence or 'Licentiate' is a postgraduate degree between the master's degree and the doctorate. The Licentiate is a popular choice in those countries where a full doctoral degree would take five or more years to achieve.

In some other major countries, such as France, or Belgium or Poland, a licence is achieved before the master's degree (it takes 3 years of studies to become licentiate and 2 additional years to become Master) in France, while in Belgium the licence takes 4 years while the master itself takes 2 more years. In Switzerland, a licence is a 4-year degree then there is a DEA degree which is equivalent to the Master's degree. In Portugal, before the Bologna process, students would become licentiates after 5 years of studies (4 years in particular cases like Marketing, Management, etc.; and 6 years for Medicine). However, since the adoption of the Bologna Process engineering degrees in Portugal were changed from a 5 year licence to a 3 year licence followed by 2 years for the MSc: Not having the MSc doesn't confer accreditation by the Ordem dos Engenheiros)

See also

Intellectual property-related:

• Brand licensing
• Compulsory license
• Cross-licensing
• Music licensing
• Smartphone patent licensing and litigation
• Software license
• Statutory license

Other:

• Amateur radio license
• Banking license
• Broadcast license
• Dog license
• Driver's license
• Firearms licence
• Golf license
• Hunting license
• License to kill
• Licensee
• Liquor license
• Marriage license
• Medical license
• Pilot license
• Professional license
• Television license
• Vehicle license

References

1. ^ Intellectual Property Licensing: Forms and Analysis, by Richard Raysman, Edward A. Pisacreta and Kenneth A. Adler. Law Journal Press, 1999-2008. ISBN 973588520869
2. ^ Licensing Intellectual Property: Law & Management, by Raman Mittal. Satyam Law International, New Delhi, India, 2011. ISBN 978-81-902883-4-7.

External links

Look up licence in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• Licensing.org, Licensing Industry Merchandiser's Association
• Licensingexpo.com, Licensing International Expo
• ArtofLicensing.org, ArtOfLicensing.org, international network of art licensing professionals

Wikibooks

• Free/Open Source Software:Licensing

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

Common misspelling(s) of license

• lisence

Dansk (Danish)
n. - licens, tilladelse, bevilling, udskænkningsret, næringsbrev, borgerskab, autorisation, handlefrihed, tøjlesløshed

idioms:

• licence plate    nummerplade
• licence to print money    en officiel godkendt plan uden kontrol over hvor mange penge der anvendes
• license number    licensnummer, registreringsnummer
• license plate    nummerplade
• licensing laws    bevillingslovgivningen
• liquor licence    bevilling, udskænkningsret
• under licence    på licens

Nederlands (Dutch)
vergunning, licentie, concessie, patent, diploma, rijbewijs, artistieke vrijheid, formele toestemming, vrijbrief, losbandigheid, ongebreidelde vrijheid, vergunning verlenen, toestaan, formele toestemming geven voor

Français (French)
n. - licence, permis, liberté, (fig) autorisation
v. tr. - accorder un permis/un brevet/une patente à qn

idioms:

• licence plate    (US) plaque minéralogique/d'immatriculation
• licence to print money    (être) un pactole
• license number    numéro d'immatriculation
• license plate    (US) plaque minéralogique/d'immatriculation
• licensing laws    lois réglementant la vente des boissons alcoolisées
• liquor licence    (US) permis/licence de débit de boissons
• under licence    autorisé, possédant une autorisation

Deutsch (German)
n. - Freiheit, Zügellosigkeit, Erlaubnis, Genehmigung, Konzession, Lizenz
v. - ermächtigen

idioms:

• licence plate    (USA) Nummernschild
• licence to print money    Möglichkeit, leicht sehr viel Geld zu verdienen
• license number    Nummer (auf dem Nummernschild)
• license plate    Nummernschild
• licensing laws    Schankgesetze
• liquor licence    Genehmigung für Alkoholverkauf
• under licence    unter Lizenz

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - (νόμιμη) άδεια, έγκριση, κατάχρηση ελευθερίας, προνόμιο, ακολασία, αποχαλίνωση, ασυδοσία
v. - χορηγώ (νόμιμη) άδεια, επιτρέπω, εξουσιοδοτώ

idioms:

• licence plate    (ΗΠΑ) πινακίδα (αριθμού κυκλοφορίας αυτοκινήτου)
• licence to print money    άδεια εκδόσεως χρήματος, λεφτά που τρέχουν από τα μπατζάκια
• license number    αριθμός αδείας κυκλοφορίας αυτοκινήτου
• license plate    (ΗΠΑ) πινακίδα (αριθμού κυκλοφορίας αυτοκινήτου)
• licensing laws    κανονισμός έκδοσης αδειών για την πώληση οινοπνευματωδών
• liquor licence    άδεια ποτοπωλείου
• under licence    με την άδεια

Italiano (Italian)
permesso, licenza, permettere

idioms:

• licence to print money    licenza di conio
• license number    numero di licenza
• license plate    targa
• licensed victualler    rivenditore autorizzato
• licensing laws    leggi di vendita bevande
• under licence    con licenza

Português (Portuguese)
n. - licença
v. - licenciar

idioms:

• licence plate    placa de identificação (de automóvel)
• licence to print money    licença para imprimir moeda
• license number    número da licença de automóvel
• license plate    placa de identificação (de automóvel)
• licensing laws    lei de venda de álcool
• liquor licence    licença de venda de álcool
• under licence    sob licença

Русский (Russian)
лицензия, удостоверение, излишняя вольность

idioms:

• licence plate    табличка с регистрационным номером на автомобиле
• licence to print money    разрешение печатать деньги
• license number    регистрационный номер на автомобиле
• license plate    табличка с регистрационным номером на автомобиле
• licensed victualler    лицо, имеющее разрешение на торговлю спиртными напитками
• licensing laws    законы о торговле спиртными напитками
• liquor licence    разрешение на торговлю спиртными напитками
• under licence    по лицензии

Español (Spanish)
n. - licencia, pase, salvoconducto, permiso, autorización, carnet
v. tr. - autorizar, dar permiso o licencia, dar título o patente

idioms:

• licence plate    placa de matrícula
• licence to print money    empleo muy remunerativo
• license number    número de matrícula, matrícula
• license plate    placa de matrícula, matrícula
• licensing laws    leyes reguladoras de la venta y consumo de alcohol
• liquor licence    licencia para vender licor
• under licence    bajo licencia

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - licens, tillståndsbevis, privilegium, tillstånd, lov, rätt, dispens, (sprit)rättigheter, certifikat, tygellöshet, självsvåld, lättfärdighet, lättsinne, (handlings)frihet, (konst.) frihet
v. - bevilja (ge) ngn licens (tillstånd, (sprit)rättigheter), utfärda tillståndsbev

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
执照, 特许, 许可证

idioms:

• licence plate    牌照
• licence to print money    纸币印刷许可
• license number    登记号码, 牌照号码
• license plate    汽车牌照
• licensing laws    售酒时间与地点法规
• liquor licence    卖酒执照
• under licence    在许可下

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 執照, 特許, 許可證

idioms:

• licence plate    牌照
• licence to print money    紙幣印刷許可
• license number    登記號碼, 牌照號碼
• license plate    汽車牌照
• licensing laws    售酒時間與地點法規
• liquor licence    賣酒執照
• under licence    在許可下

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 허가, 면허장, 파격 , 방종

idioms:

• under licence    허가하에서

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 承諾, 認可, 鑑札, 放縦, 破格

idioms:

• driving licence    運転免許証
• licence plate    ナンバープレートパブの支配人
• licence to print money    紙幣印刷許可

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) إذن أو ترخيص بعمل, حريه العمل, إجازة رسميه لمباشرة صناعه أو مهمه, حريه يساء أستعمالها, فسق أو فجور (فعل) يمنحه رخصه رسميه, يجيز وخاصه بترخيص رسمي‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮רישיון, היתר, רשות, הפקרות, פריקת עול, נטילת החירות לא לדייק, ע"י סופר או אמן, כדי להגביר את הרושם, תעודה אוניברסיטאית, זלזול בחוק‬

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