The process of leasing a legally protected entity which could include a name, likeness, logo, trademark, graphic design, slogan, signature, character, or a combination of the above-mentioned elements is known as licensing. Technology platform licensing, as the name suggests, is the process of claiming a technology framework as one that has belongs to your business.
Licenses
There are various kinds of software licenses. Some of the more popular ones include
- Non-Exclusive License: A non-exclusive license permits the right to use a given intellectual property in a specified manner. Non-exclusive licenses can be granted to several users immediately. A non-exclusive license provides the content creator, in this case, a developer to multiply the earnings and also at the same time retain a level of control on the product.
- Exclusive Licenses: In an exclusive license, you grant the right to use a given piece of intellectual property. The grant is made in a specified manner to one other user. The license interdicts other users from using the same property for the duration of the license.
Scope
There are restrictions and requirements that defines the permissible use of the software. The scope of a license can be adjusted by the software vendor, depending upon the preference of the customer or to reflect the customers’ need. The license can be adjusted by defining and limiting the scope in the following ways:
- Who: It is in place to define the target audience. For instance, some companies like to limit the total number of people who have access to their software, or limit the number of users who can access the software at a particular given time.
- What: This is in place to define what version, iteration or part of the software is being regulated by a particular license.
- Where: This clause is in place to determine what use case scenario the software is being bought for. For instance, some software applications are geographically locked and can’t be used in other regions than the ones specified on the agreement.
- When: This clause is in place to dictate the terms and timing of licensing. Some licenses can be for a predetermined period of time after which the licensing expires.
- Why: It defines the purpose for the software being used. The software license dictates what purposes the software can be used for. For instance, if the license and agreement dictates that the software should be used for personal purposes only, then it’s considered a breach of trust if the individual uses it for professional purposes.
- How: This clause is in place to determine the prohibitions and allowances with the software. For instance, under this clause, software vendors prevent any kind of modification with the existing software or installation of the software on any unauthorized machines.
Protecting Licensed Software from Infringement
Copyright
If you are looking forward to protect your software from any kind of infringement, then the copyright law is where you should be looking. The Canadian copyright law is governed by the Copyright Act. The Copyright Act is responsible for protecting original literary, artistic, musical and dramatic works. Canada protects computer software as a literary work. The Canadian copyright grants the owner with the exclusive right of reproducing the work under any form in future.
Patents
Canada has a strong patent law in place to protect any kind of invention happening across the board. Unlike copyright, patent protection does not kick in automatically. For anyone to avail the benefit of the patent law, one has to register his/her patent in the first place. The patent policy of the Canadian Intellectual Property Act is very efficient in protecting and granting adequate software patents.
Licensing technology platforms is a very streamlined process in Canada, and everyone who is in the software business should avail this opportunity. The Canada justice system is also more than efficient in dealing with software licensing related issues. If you are someone who is looking forward to licensing and patent protection, then get in touch with the best lawyers in Alberta.