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Exclusive Licence
Exclusive Licence
A specific type of licence that permits an entity (or licensee) to use the invention covered by a patent and also restricts the owner (or proprietor) of the patent from issuing further licences to other third parties.
An exclusive licence also generally precludes the owner of the patent from using the invention themselves. Where the owner of the patent retains the right to use the invention themselves this is commonly referred to as a "Sole Licence".
Exclusive licences are generally considered more valuable than non-exclusive licences because the licensee receives exclusive use of the invention, thereby providing them with the full benefit of the monopoly granted by the patent. Exclusive licensees are also empowered to bring infringement proceedings in their own name, without necessarily requiring the active involvement of the patent owner.
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