Pillar 06 · IP Navigator Shield™
Licensing & Contracts
Turn your IP into revenue without giving it away.
Who it's for
Anyone who wants others to use their IP in exchange for money — merch deals, brand collaborations, franchise agreements, SaaS licenses.
Typical cost
$0–$5,000 for a solid template. Custom deals typically $2k–$10k in legal fees. Never use a boilerplate for a deal over $50k without a lawyer.
Timeline
As short as one event or as long as the IP itself lasts.
What it is
A license is a written permission to use your IP under specific terms. You keep ownership; the licensee pays for limited rights. Contrast with an assignment, which transfers ownership permanently.
Essential clauses every license needs
Without these, the license is unenforceable or leaks value.
- Scope — exactly what IP, what territory, what use cases
- Exclusivity — exclusive (only them), non-exclusive (anyone), or sole (them + you)
- Term — how long, and how it renews or terminates
- Royalties — flat fee, per-unit, percentage of revenue, or minimum guarantee
- Quality control — you must approve their use, or you can lose the trademark
- Termination — breach, bankruptcy, sale of the licensee
- Audit rights — you can inspect their sales records
License vs. assignment vs. work-for-hire
These get confused constantly and the wrong one can cost you your IP.
- License — you keep ownership, they get to use it. Reversible.
- Assignment — you transfer ownership permanently. Requires written agreement.
- Work-for-hire — the person creating it never owned it (only works for employees or specific categories of contractor work).
Official resources
Free government and public sources. No login required unless noted.