In a licensing deal, if the licensee does not generate adequate sales to cover the minimum guarantee, the licensee must:

• A. Redo the agreement to reflect the lack of sales
• B. Pay a portion of the minimum guarantee
• C. Not pay if sales are low
• D. None of the above

Answer: (D)

Minimum guarantee is a fixed amount the licensee owes to the licensor, regardless of how well the product sells. It provides the licensor with a guaranteed revenue floor. In many deals, royalties from sales are credited against this guarantee, and if those royalties don’t reach the minimum, the licensee may owe the difference to satisfy the guarantee (or the contract may specify how the shortfall is treated). The options given don’t correctly describe this typical remedy—redoing the agreement, paying only a portion, or not paying when sales are low—so none of them accurately reflects the usual obligation. That’s why none of the above is the best choice.