licensee

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "licensee" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in legal or business contexts to refer to a person or entity that has been granted a license to use something, such as intellectual property or a product. Example: "The licensee must adhere to all terms outlined in the licensing agreement to avoid penalties."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"It's a very hard life being a licensee.

The Guardian

By contrast, Calvin Klein, who had licensed the manufacture of his jeans and underwear, cared a lot: in 2000, enraged by seeing his jeans on sale in cut-price outlets such as Costco, he sued Warnaco, his licensee, for breach of contract.The trend now is for labels to buy back their licences.

The Economist

Harvard and its licensee, DuPont, however, had the rights to any mice created using the new techniques, even ones created by independent labs.

The Economist

It builds cars with a licensee in Iran and opened a factory in Ukraine last year.Sales of 7.6 billion yuan ($1 billion) in 2007 and profits of 937m yuan were enough to make Great Wall the most valuable listed carmaker in China, despite having much lower output volumes than its main domestic rivals.

The Economist

This forced the South Koreans to license the technology; such deals usually bar any transfer to another company if the licensee is taken over.

The Economist

James Snider at the New America Foundation, a think-tank in Washington, DC, estimates that America's airwaves would have been worth $771 billion in 2001 (when he last did the sums) if every licensee were to use his bandwidth for the service in most demand by the public.

The Economist

The latter category is the most sensitive to a change in policy, as it includes all services subsectors not related to transport or travel, including communications, construction and insurance; financial services; computer and information services; royalties and licensee fees; and other business services.

The Economist

The licensee bears the risk and the designer reaps a reward.The problem is in the long term.

The Economist

Politicians immediately considered legislation to compel the German maker of an anti-anthrax drug to grant a licence for its production only months after American trade officials had lambasted poor countries for considering something similar for AIDS drugs.More such hypocrisy will be exposed as the rich world becomes a licensee as well as a licensor of technology.

The Economist

Haldia is already a licensee of Basell's technology in commodity plastics, and might fancy direct access to Basell's wide expertise in more upmarket stuff.

The Economist

His Thai licensee, Chaleo Yoovidhya, had a tonic syrup called Krating Daeng in his portfolio.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "licensee", ensure that the context clearly defines what type of license is being granted (e.g., technology, trademark, operating license).

Common error

Avoid confusing "licensee" (the entity receiving the license) with "licensor" (the entity granting the license). Double-check that you're assigning the roles correctly in your writing.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "licensee" is as a noun, identifying a person or entity that has been granted a license. As Ludwig confirms, this term is widely understood and accepted in formal and informal contexts alike.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Formal & Business

29%

Encyclopedias

19%

Less common in

Science

4%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "licensee" refers to an individual or entity granted a license to use something. Ludwig confirms that this is a valid term. It is most frequently found in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts. When writing, avoid confusing the term with "licensor", and ensure that the context clearly defines the type of license. Consider using synonyms such as "permit holder" or "authorized user" depending on the situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

permit holder

Focuses specifically on holding a permit, which is a type of license.

authorized user

Emphasizes the authorized aspect of using something under license.

franchisee

Implies a specific type of license related to a franchise agreement.

rights holder

A general term for someone holding rights, which could be granted through a license.

concessionaire

Refers to someone granted a concession, often in a specific location.

registered operator

Emphasizes the official registration of an operator under a licensing scheme.

patent holder

Specifically refers to someone holding a patent, a type of intellectual property license.

approved vendor

Focuses on approval to sell or provide something, often under specific conditions.

certificate holder

Highlights possession of a certificate, which can function similarly to a license.

accredited agent

Highlights accreditation, implying a form of licensing or authorization.

FAQs

How is "licensee" used in legal contexts?

In legal contexts, "licensee" refers to the party who receives the right or permission to use intellectual property, operate under certain regulations, or conduct specific activities as defined in a licensing agreement. The "licensing agreement" outlines the terms and conditions that the licensee must adhere to.

What's the difference between a "licensee" and a "franchisee"?

While both a "licensee" and a "franchisee" are granted rights by another party, a "franchisee" typically operates a business under an established brand and system, while a "licensee" might simply be granted the right to use a specific technology or intellectual property. Therefore, "franchisee" is a more specific term.

What responsibilities does a "licensee" typically have?

A "licensee" typically has responsibilities such as paying royalties, maintaining quality standards, adhering to the terms of the licensing agreement, and protecting the licensor's intellectual property. Failure to do so may result in termination of the "licensing agreement".

What are some synonyms for "licensee"?

While there isn't a perfect synonym, alternatives to "licensee" include "permit holder", "authorized user", "grantee", or depending on the context, ""franchisee"" or "concessionaire".