Intellectual Property

Licensing Your IP

You can give someone else permission to use your intellectual property (IP) by granting them a licence, normally in return for a financial or other benefit. If you wish to use another party’s IP you will need to obtain a licence from them. The terms of any licence are for you to agree with the other party.

Our booklet “How Licensing Intellectual Property Can Help Your Business PDF document(2.43Mb)” provides an overview of IP licensing and contains a checklist PDF document(92Kb) of useful points to consider when preparing for IP licensing negotiations. We welcome your feedback on these resources. If you would like to send us your comments or require any further information please email us on B2Blicensingfeedback@ipo.gov.uk

If you decide to pursue licensing you are advised to seek professional advice and to enlist a qualified lawyer or patent or trade mark attorney in relation to drafting a licence.

Copyright

You do not need to tell us if you grant a licence on your copyright works but you should keep precise records. For some types of copyright works, there are collective licensing bodies.

Designs

You do not need to tell us if you grant a licence on your design but if you do, it may allow the licensee to take action against infringement. Use form DF12A to tell us if you grant a licence on your design, use the same form for removal or amendment.

Patents

You can allow others to use your invention by granting a licence, you do not need to tell us if you grant a licence on your patent.

By indicating that you are willing to grant an automatic licence on your patent, you can reduce your renewal payments (licence of right). Use form 28 to endorse your patent licence of right.

Trade marks

You do not need to tell us if you grant a licence on your trade mark but if you do, it will allow the licensee to take action against infringement. Use Form TM50 to register a licensee and form TM51 for removal or amendment.

Know-how (trade secrets)

You are advised to carefully consider how you will identify and maintain the confidentiality of any know-how which you may wish to license. Our booklets on IP licensing PDF document(2.43Mb) and on Confidentiality and Confidential Disclosure (Non-Disclosure) Agreements PDF document(84Kb) (CDA) offer some advice on this subject.