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Illustration: cumulative income, non-exclusive licensingIllustrative example only, not a forecast
Exclusive or non-exclusive? The licence term that matters more than price
The first offer for your data will often be exclusive, and a slightly higher price can hide a much lower lifetime value.
Why exclusivity costs you
- You can't license the same data to anyone else.
- Long exclusivity removes competition at renewal.
- Buyers rarely pay enough extra to make up for it.
If you must grant it
- Keep it short, typically 30–45 days.
- Limit it to a field of use or a data type.
- Price it explicitly as a separate line.
Key takeaways
- Default to non-exclusive.
- Short, narrow exclusivity only, and priced.
- Get any offer reviewed before you sign.
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