Which statement best describes a license in copyright law?

Which statement best describes a license in copyright law?

• A. A license is a grant of permission
• B. A license transfers ownership of the work
• C. A license permanently gives up copyright ownership
• D. A license has no relation to permission

Answer: (A)

A license in copyright law is a grant of permission by the copyright owner to someone else to exercise specific rights in a work. It allows the licensee to do things that would normally be infringement—such as reproducing, distributing, performing, or displaying the work—within the terms set by the license. Importantly, ownership stays with the licensor; a license does not transfer or relinquish ownership. Licenses can be exclusive or non-exclusive, and they’re usually defined by terms like duration, territory, permitted uses, and often Royalties or other compensation. They can be revocable or limited by contract, depending on what is agreed. This is why the correct description is that a license is a grant of permission. The idea of transferring ownership would be an assignment, not a license, and permanently giving up ownership would imply a transfer of rights rather than a permission grant. Saying it has no relation to permission is simply incorrect, since permission is exactly what a license provides.

A license in copyright law is a grant of permission by the copyright owner to someone else to exercise specific rights in a work. It allows the licensee to do things that would normally be infringement—such as reproducing, distributing, performing, or displaying the work—within the terms set by the license. Importantly, ownership stays with the licensor; a license does not transfer or relinquish ownership. Licenses can be exclusive or non-exclusive, and they’re usually defined by terms like duration, territory, permitted uses, and often Royalties or other compensation. They can be revocable or limited by contract, depending on what is agreed.

This is why the correct description is that a license is a grant of permission. The idea of transferring ownership would be an assignment, not a license, and permanently giving up ownership would imply a transfer of rights rather than a permission grant. Saying it has no relation to permission is simply incorrect, since permission is exactly what a license provides.