Software Licensing Attorney in Chicago
Software licensing agreements define how software can be used, distributed, and modified. At Liberum Law, our software licensing attorneys in Chicago draft and negotiate license agreements for proprietary software, open source projects, and hybrid licensing models.
Our software licensing services include end-user license agreement (EULA) drafting, enterprise software license negotiations, open source license compliance audits and strategy, software distribution and OEM agreements, white-label and reseller licensing, source code escrow agreements, software maintenance and support contracts, and custom development agreements with IP allocation.
The choice of licensing model — perpetual, subscription, usage-based, freemium, or open source — has significant implications for revenue, IP protection, and liability. Our attorneys help you select and structure the licensing approach that best fits your business model.
Contact our software licensing attorneys at Liberum Law for a free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a software license?
A contract granting permission to use software under specified terms. Distinguishes from sale (you don't own the software, just license to use it). Common types: perpetual, term, subscription, site, user, computer, evaluation. Each has different commercial and legal implications.
Proprietary vs open-source — what's the difference?
Proprietary: closed-source, restrictive license, typically paid. Open-source: source code available, governed by open-source licenses (MIT, Apache, GPL, BSD) — each with different requirements. Mixing them in a product without proper compliance can have severe consequences (e.g., GPL "viral" requirements).
Do I need to comply with open-source licenses?
Yes — even though OSS is "free," each license has obligations: attribution, source code disclosure (for GPL/copyleft), license inclusion, and limitations on warranties. Non-compliance can lead to license termination, IP infringement claims, and reputation damage. We conduct OSS license audits.
What is a license audit?
Software vendors auditing whether you comply with their license terms — Oracle, Microsoft, SAP, Adobe are notorious. Findings often include shocking back-license-fee demands. We respond to license audits, negotiate settlements, and help clients prepare for future audits.
How are software royalties calculated?
Various models: per-user, per-device, per-CPU/core, per-instance, percentage of revenue, tiered, flat fees, hybrid. The right model depends on deployment, scaling expectations, and competitive dynamics. We negotiate royalty structures aligned with business outcomes.
