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What are perpetual, irrevocable and royalty-free licences?

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Published on: 01 November 2018
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Licences are sometimes expressed to be 鈥榩erpetual鈥, 鈥榠rrevocable鈥 or 鈥Royalty-free鈥, but those terms can be interpreted in a variety of ways. It is important to properly specify what these terms mean in each case:

  1. 鈥榩erpetual鈥 licences: clarify whether this means that the licence is 鈥榥ever-ending鈥 or merely of an 鈥榠ndefinite Duration鈥 until terminated in accordance with its terms. Alternatively, specify a long fixed-term (eg 20 years) rather than having a contract of open-ended duration

  2. 鈥榠rrevocable鈥 licences: clarify whether this means that the licence cannot be revoked or terminated under any circumstances in Perpetuity or that the licence cannot be revoked, other than subject to the term and termination provisions elsewhere in the agreement. There should be no potential conflict or uncertainty between the licence being expressed to be 鈥榠rrevocable鈥 in one clause, and terminable in another

  3. 鈥榬oyalty-free鈥 licences: clarify whether this means that no additional licence payments are due over and above specified Fees identified in the agreement if this is the case

If no payments of any kind are due

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Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom
Key definition:
Royalty definition
What does Royalty mean?

In this Part 鈥渞oyalty鈥 means a royalty in respect of the enjoyment or exercise of rights that constitute an asset'>intangible fixed asset.

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