Non-exclusive license
By Gareth HoyleLast updated How we research
A non-exclusive license lets a buyer use a dataset while the seller stays free to license the same data to other buyers on separate terms.
A non-exclusive license is a license that permits a buyer to use a dataset without stopping the seller from licensing the same data to others. Each buyer pays for its own rights, so one archive can earn several fees.
When does a non-exclusive license make sense?
A non-exclusive license makes sense when several labs want similar data and none will pay an exclusivity premium. Endless Data, which aggregates supply for several labs, publishes non-exclusive terms and payouts of up to $4 million per company.
The trade-off is price per deal. AIData.Broker figures reported by ddiy.co suggest a non-exclusive deal earns roughly a fifth to two fifths of an exclusive deal for the same data.
What should a non-exclusive contract still restrict?
A non-exclusive contract should still restrict onward transfer, retention and resale of raw copies, or one buyer can undercut your later deals. Our buyer checks cover onward transfer limits and deletion of raw copies before any sample is shared. See also exclusive license and the guide to exclusive vs non-exclusive data licenses.