Which of the following best describes non-exclusive licensing?

• A. Grants exclusive rights to one licensee
• B. Allows multiple licensees to use the IP
• C. Prohibits use in certain regions
• D. Requires mutual consent for each use

Answer: (B)

Non-exclusive licensing means the IP owner can grant rights to use the IP to multiple parties at the same time. The owner retains ownership and can license the same IP to several different licensees under separate agreements, so no single licensee has sole rights. This is different from an exclusive license, where one licensee gains sole rights in a defined market or field. Territorial limits or regional prohibitions can appear in licenses, but they describe where the licensee can operate, not the fundamental nature of the license. Requiring mutual consent for each use isn’t part of the defining idea of non-exclusive licensing, which is about allowing multiple licensees to use the IP under their own terms.