In licensing agreements, who is typically the party that grants permission to use the intellectual property?

• A. Licensee
• B. Licensor
• C. Rights holder
• D. Agent

Answer: (B)

In licensing agreements, the entity that grants permission to use the intellectual property is the licensor. The licensor is the owner or controller of the rights and authorizes the use of the IP under defined terms, such as scope, territory, duration, and royalties. The licensee is the party who receives that permission and uses the IP under those terms, typically in exchange for compensation. The term rights holder refers to who owns the rights, which is usually the same party as the licensor, but the crucial action—granting permission—comes from the licensor. An agent, while they may negotiate or facilitate the deal, does not inherently grant rights unless explicitly empowered to do so.