IP Licensing & Transactions Attorney in Chicago
Intellectual property licensing transforms innovation into revenue. At Liberum Law, our IP licensing attorneys in Chicago draft, negotiate, and structure licensing agreements that monetize IP assets while protecting the licensor’s rights and interests.
Our IP licensing practice covers software and technology licensing agreements including SaaS, on-premise, and hybrid models, trademark licensing and co-branding agreements, content licensing for media, publishing, and digital platforms, patent licensing and cross-licensing arrangements, franchise agreements with IP licensing components, open source license compliance and strategy, IP assignment and transfer agreements, and joint development agreements with IP allocation provisions.
Effective IP licensing requires clear definition of the licensed rights, territory, duration, exclusivity, sublicensing rights, quality control obligations, audit rights, and termination triggers. Our attorneys ensure that licensing agreements are comprehensive, enforceable, and commercially sound.
Contact our IP licensing attorneys at Liberum Law for a free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an IP license?
A contract where the IP owner grants permission to use IP (trademark, copyright, patent, trade secret) under specified terms — exclusivity, territory, duration, royalties, quality control, sublicensing, termination. Licensing monetizes IP while retaining ownership.
Exclusive vs non-exclusive license — what's the difference?
Exclusive: only the licensee can use the IP for the licensed scope (sometimes excluding even the owner). Non-exclusive: owner can license to multiple parties. Sole license: owner cannot license others but can use itself. Each has very different value and negotiation dynamics.
How are licensing royalties structured?
Common structures: flat license fee, percentage of revenue (typically 1–15% depending on industry), per-unit royalty, minimum royalties with adjustments, sliding scales, milestone payments. We negotiate terms reflecting market norms and the value of the IP.
What quality control should licensors require?
For trademarks especially — failure to police quality can lead to "naked licensing" and loss of mark rights. Standards, approval rights, samples, audits. For patents: less critical; for copyrights: depends on author's reputational concerns. We draft appropriate quality control provisions.
Can I sublicense IP I licensed from someone else?
Only if the underlying license expressly allows it. Most licenses prohibit sublicensing without consent. We carefully review and negotiate sublicensing rights when downstream distribution is planned.
