5 min read
Business data licensing, step by step
From a source inventory to a written agreement and controlled delivery.
Start with a description
List the systems, record types, date ranges, and approximate counts. Describe the tasks your records show. You can begin without moving any raw records.
Flag uncertainty early. Missing permissions or unclear source history need to be resolved, not hidden in a larger export.
Define a sample review
Agree what a sample will show, who may see it, and what information must be removed or excluded. A review sample is not a licence for unrestricted use.
The review should answer practical questions about completeness, formats, quality, and the proposed learning task. Keep a record of the scope and access.
Review the buyer requirements
Confirm the requested fields, record structure, quality criteria, and intended use. Agree how missing information and rejected records will be handled.
Availability and suitability remain open questions until the source and sample have been reviewed.
Agree terms before delivery
A written licence should identify the dataset and state permitted use, access, retention, onward transfer, restrictions, and payment. Review model-training rights separately where relevant.
Describe the approved delivery method and acceptance process. Make sure the people who authorize the agreement can grant the required rights.
Keep the delivery record
Record what was delivered, when it was delivered, and which agreement covers it. Retain the approved scope, quality findings, and handling decisions.
A later update or additional use may need a separate review. Do not assume that the first agreement covers every future dataset.
Put it into an inventory.
Describe the records your team holds. You can start without a raw export.
See if your data qualifies