What is a license?

​

A license is permission to do something. In the case of IP, it is a form of consent from an IP owner to use the rights to a trademark, patent, copyright or design. There can be an exclusive or non-exclusive license granted. A licensing agreement is a legal contract between two parties, known as the licensor and the licensee. In most licensing agreements, the licensor grants the licensee the right to produce and sell products/services, to apply for a brand name or trademark, or use patented technology owned by the licensor. In exchange, the licensee usually adheres to a series of conditions regarding the use of the licensor's property and agrees to make payments known as royalties.

​

Licensing agreements cover a wide range of well-known situations. For example, a small manufacturer might license a proprietary production technology from a larger firm to gain a competitive edge rather than expending their own time and resources to develop its own technology. 

 

How can we help you? Our scope of services include:

 

• Drafting licensing agreements. 

• Advising on licensing disputes in different Southeast Asian countries..

• Advising on licensing contracts.

 

What is a franchise?

​

A franchise is a form of expansion of an existing business. It is a business opportunity given to one party from another whereby business ideas, concepts, expressions and processes are shared. Franchising is a type of business model, where a business relationship between a franchisor, the owner and grantor of rights, and franchisee, a receiver of said rights, are created. A product or service is marketed and distributed based on the rights granted by the franchisor to run a business using the owner's trademark or trade name in a specific way for a specific amount of time.  

The International Franchise Association has defined franchising as being a "continuing relationship in which the franchisor provides a licensed privilege to do business, plus assistance in organising training, merchandising and management in return for a consideration from the franchisee".

​

"Franchising" is also used to describe a number of business models, the most commonly identified of which is "business format franchising". There are other models which are also dependent on franchise relationships and these include: 

​

1. Manufacturer-Retailer: Where the franchisee sells the franchisor's product directly to the public. 

2. Manufacturer-Wholesaler: Where the franchisee is under a license to manufacture and distribute the franchisor's product.

3. Wholesaler-Retailer: Where the franchisee purchases products for retail sale from a franchisor wholesaler (frequently a cooperative of the franchisee retailers who have formed a wholesaling company through which they are contractually obliged to purchase, for example hardware and automotive product stores).

4. Retailer-Retailer: Where the franchisor markets a service, or a product, under a common name and standardised system, through a network of franchisees. 

 

How can we help you? Our scope of services include:

 

• Drafting a franchising agreement.

• Advising on franchising rules and regulations in different Southeast Asian countries.

• Advising on franchising disputes in different Southeast Asian countries.

​