If all of the rights to a patent are not transferred, then it is considered to be a license and not an assignment. Assignments must be recorded with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Return to patent main page. License A license is the right to make, use or sell an invention without being sued by the patent owner. A license does not transfer any legal title in the licensed invention.
Licenses are a way to maximize the economic value of an invention.
License can be exclusive or non-exclusive. An exclusive license is where the licensee is the only person who has been granted the particular right. A non-exclusive is where the licensee is one of several who have been granted the particular right. Licenses do not have to be granted strictly on a basis of exclusive rights. An owner of an invention may grant geographical rights, such as the right to sell in a particular state, or country.