Licensing
/ˈlaɪsənsɪŋ/
Definitions
2 meaningsThe act of granting a license or permission; the system or process of granting licenses.
/ˈlaɪsənsɪŋ/
The granting of official permission to do something.
The company specializes in the licensing of intellectual property.
💡 Simply: Imagine you want to sell your lemonade, but the city says you need a special permit. Licensing is like getting that permit – it's the official okay to do something.
👶 For kids: It's like getting a special paper that lets you do something, like having a license to drive a car or sell lemonade.
More Examples
Rigorous licensing procedures ensure quality control in the healthcare industry.
The city's licensing department handles permits for various businesses.
How It's Used
"The licensing of new pharmaceuticals requires extensive testing."
"Software licensing governs the use and distribution of programs."
The act of granting a license or permission.
/ˈlaɪsənsɪŋ/
The government is licensing new businesses to operate in the area.
💡 Simply: It's like the act of giving someone the official 'okay' to do something. Like when a company lets another use their ideas and products.
👶 For kids: When someone gives you a special paper to do something. It's the act of giving the special paper.
More Examples
They are actively licensing their patents to generate revenue.
The university is licensing its research findings for commercial use.
How It's Used
"The government is licensing new internet service providers."
"The company is licensing its technology to competitors."
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
Licensing agreement
A formal contract outlining the terms for using intellectual property.
"The companies signed a licensing agreement allowing for the use of the software."
Cross-licensing
An agreement where multiple parties license their intellectual property to each other.
"Many tech companies use cross-licensing to avoid lawsuits."
From the noun 'license', which comes from the Latin 'licentia' meaning 'freedom, permission'. The verb 'license' and the derived form 'licensing' emerged later to describe the act of granting such permission.
The term 'licensing' and the act of granting licenses has been present since the Middle Ages, often in the context of granting permission to trade, print materials, or practice a profession. The term is often seen in legal and governmental texts from earlier centuries.
Memory tip
Think of a driver's license: it grants you permission to drive. Licensing is the overall system of granting permissions.
Practice
Word Origin
Root: licentia