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Question

Do I keep ownership of licensed data?

By SourceX Editorial · Updated

Short answer

Yes. A license grants limited rights to use data; it does not transfer ownership. The agreement defines what the buyer may do, for how long, and what happens at the end, such as deletion.

Part of: How licensing works

Explanation#

Selling data outright would transfer ownership; licensing does not.

You can usually license the same data again unless you grant exclusivity.

Rights and privacy#

  • Confirm customer, vendor and employee agreements allow the use
  • Remove or de-identify personal details before anything leaves the company
  • Approve the final dataset and permitted uses in writing

How licensing works#

A business describes its data, buyer demand is assessed, scope and permitted use are proposed, the data is prepared and de-identified, an agreement is signed, and the approved dataset is delivered. See data licensing for detail.

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General information, not legal advice. Editorial policy.

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