Meaning & use
licenser
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Meanings
nouncountablelegalbusiness
A person or organization that gives someone official permission to do something, such as use a product, trademark or technology, usually in return for payment.
Grammar: Plural is licensers: the licenser sets the terms, and licensees must follow them.
Patterns
- the licenser of something
- a licenser and a licensee
The software company acts as the licenser and charges a yearly fee to each customer.
Under the contract, the licenser keeps ownership of the trademark.
The licenser may cancel the agreement if the royalties are not paid.
nouncountableformal
An official who issues permits or licenses, for example for businesses, drivers or the sale of alcohol.
Grammar: Often appears in a title or job description: the county licenser approved the permit.
Patterns
- a licenser of something
The local licenser inspected the restaurant before approving its alcohol permit.
A licenser must check that every applicant meets the legal requirements.
The licenser refused to renew the permit after repeated complaints.
Word forms
| plural | licensers |
|---|
Common combinations
- the licenser and the licensee
- The agreement lists the duties of both the licenser and the licensee.
- patent licenser
- The patent licenser receives royalties on every unit sold.
- brand licenser
- The brand licenser approves each product design before sale.
- pay the licenser
- Manufacturers must pay the licenser a share of their sales.
- approved by the licenser
- All packaging must be approved by the licenser.
Synonyms and how they differ
- licensor
- Licensor is the standard legal spelling for the party granting rights, so it is usually safer in contracts than licenser.
- grantor
- Grantor is a wider legal term for anyone who grants a right or property, not only a license.
- authorizer
- Authorizer is a general word for someone who approves something and does not suggest a formal license or payment.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: licenser or licensee?
licenser vs licensee
A licensee receives the license, while the licenser is the one who grants it.
Practice
In a franchise agreement, which party is the licenser?
Choose one answer.
The licenser grants the right and is normally paid for it. The shop owner who receives the right is the licensee.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “licenser”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.