Dallas Software Licensing Attorneys

When you put time and effort into a software project, you need to make sure that your work is licensed. By securing a software license, you protect your ability to profit and control the use of your software. An experienced licensing attorney will give you valuable information about this highly technical area of law to help you determine which options are best for you. Your lawyer will help you choose the appropriate contractual safeguards and understand how your licensing impacts essential factors like terms of use and user interaction. 

A software licensing lawyer can also help if your business plans to use licensed software developed by another company. Your attorney can help you gain access through a contractual agreement or other necessary means. Whatever your needs surrounding software licensing, at Gagnon, Peacock & Vereeke, P.C., we are here to provide solutions to keep your business operating as well as possible.  Do not hesitate to call us at (214) 824-1414 today to talk to a member of our team about your needs.

Do I Need a Software Licensing Lawyer?

A software licensing lawyer is a necessity when it comes to being as prepared and protected as possible. On a basic level, software licensing involves drafting contracts with terms that serve the purpose of the parties agreeing. Typically, a software licensing agreement allows the developer to retain rights to the software while allowing other people to use it.  

An experienced software licensing attorney understands the pitfalls and preferred language to solve problems when courts interpret contracts. With this knowledge, a licensing agreement prepared by an experienced attorney will put you in the best position to anticipate potential issues upfront. By anticipating problems and helping you plan for them, your lawyer saves your business valuable time. If you want to make sure your contract serves its intended purpose, you need a lawyer.

Drafting a complex agreement like a licensing contract requires the specialized knowledge of an experienced attorney. Without the help of an attorney, you may not consider critical factors and leave your product or company vulnerable. You do not want to be in a position down the line where you wish you had included a term for your protection and it is too late.  

Why Choose Gagnon, Peacock & Vereeke, P.C. to Handle My Case?

With decades of combined experience, Gagnon, Peacock & Vereeke, P.C. has been a staple in the Plano and Dallas Texas area for years. When you need an airtight license agreement drafted, you want to choose a firm with a reputation you can trust.  Gagnon, Peacock & Vereeke, P.C. is highly respected and sought after in the community for assisting businesses like yours with all types of intellectual property and commercial needs, always putting customer service first.

Aaron Peacock is a patent attorney, with a technical background, including a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering.  He is familiar with all aspects of intellectual property law and assisting developers in protecting their software. He is much involved in the legal and business community, including membership in the Dallas Bar Association, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and the Christian Legal Society. To speak with a member of our team, call us at (214) 824-1414 or chat with us on our website. We sincerely look forward to working with you.

Types of Software Licenses

No matter what your specific needs are surrounding software licensing, Gagnon, Peacock & Vereeke, P.C. proudly offers a free consultation on your case. There are many different kinds of software licenses, some of which include:

• End-User License Agreements: In an end-user license agreement, the purpose of the agreement allows the software developer to keep ownership of their product while still allowing the end-user to use the product.  With this type of agreement, particular restrictions on use apply. Typically, end-user license agreements prohibit a user from performing reverse engineering or modifying the software.
• Shrink-Wrap Software Licensing: End-user license agreements are often shrink-wrapped software license agreements when delivered in a physical package. Shrink-wrap agreements typically do not become effective until after the user opens the package.  An electronic version is available for internet purchases, where users must agree to certain licensing agreements before downloading or installing the software. In either case, opening the package or agreeing to the terms binds the user to the contract.
• B2B Software Licenses: In a business-to-business context, the terms of a software licensing agreement may look a bit different.  These arrangements can be unique to the businesses involved and can include reseller licensing and other transactions.
• Open-Source Licenses: With this type of license, the developer retains very few rights, but may make distribution contingent on offering the same rights to the downstream users. The developer may require users who make software modifications available to others at no cost.

The attorneys at Gagnon, Peacock & Vereeke, P.C. will help you better understand which kind of license applies to your situation. 

Software License Components

License agreements are a type of contract that provides how a software owner will allow others to use or sell its software. A software licensing agreement can include many different terms for the parties to abide by, including the following common types:

• Restrictions on Scope: These can consist of restrictions on resale and distribution, such as where geographically the software may be used or distributed, or restrictions against reverse engineering.
• Time, Renewal, and Termination: These terms determine how long the license is suitable for, and whether and when it may be renewed or ended.
• Exclusivity: This depends on whether the software was made for a unique purpose or meant to be used by many different users.  If intended for mass distribution, then a non-exclusive license will be necessary.
• Royalties: This represents the amount to be paid to the software developer/licensor upon the distribution of the software.
• Performance: Any warranties or disclaimers about product performance should be included.
• Enforcement: Software licensing agreements can be difficult to enforce, but by considering specific provisions, the licensors may have a greater ability to enforce the agreement.  Our attorneys are always attempting to make licensing agreements as enforceable as possible based on your particular circumstances. 
• Defense and Indemnification Clauses: This could require a software developer/licensor to defend in court or reimburse the user if the user is sued because the software somehow violated their rights.

A skilled lawyer will take the type of relationship between the developer and user into account during the creation of a software licensing agreement.  Our attorneys will discuss your situation to understand its unique issues and prepare licensing agreements that reflect your specific needs.

Call a Dallas Software License Lawyer Today

If you have any questions or needs surrounding software licensing, call us right away so that we can provide you with the solutions that meet your needs.  We are available by chat on this website or by calling us at (214) 824-1414. Do not risk losing valuable software rights without the protection you deserve.