What is a licence agreement?

A licence agreement gives your client permission to use your creative work without transferring ownership. You keep the copyright; they get the right to use it under specific conditions. Think of it as renting versus buying.

Licensing is common for photographers, illustrators, designers, and any freelancer who wants to retain ownership of their work while allowing clients to use it.

When should you use one?

When you want to grant usage rights rather than full ownership. Stock photography, template designs, illustrations, fonts, or any creative work where retaining IP makes commercial sense.

What's included

Licensed work - exactly which creative works are being licensed, with descriptions or reference numbers.

Permitted use - how the client can use the work. Covers channels (web, print, social), territories (Australia, global), and purposes (commercial, editorial, personal).

Restrictions - what the client can't do. Typically: no reselling, no sublicensing, no modification without permission.

Duration - how long the licence lasts. Can be perpetual or time-limited.

Exclusivity - whether the licence is exclusive (only this client) or non-exclusive (you can licence to others too).

Fees - the licence fee, payment terms, and any royalties or additional fees for extended use.