Software License Contract

Software License Contract Template for United States

Create a bespoke document in minutes, or upload and review your own.

4.6 / 5

4.8 / 5

Let's create your Software License Contract

1. Select your governing law and document type:

2. Enter your key requirements:

3. Create your document to edit, review or download

Get your first 2 documents free

Your data doesn't train Genie's AI

You keep IP ownership of your information

Key Requirements PROMPT example:

"I need a Software License Contract for my enterprise-level accounting software that will be licensed to financial institutions, including specific clauses for data security compliance and annual automatic renewals starting from March 2025."

Document background

The Software License Contract serves as the primary legal framework for software distribution and usage in the United States. This document is essential when a software owner wishes to grant usage rights while maintaining ownership and control over their intellectual property. It addresses key aspects such as scope of use, payment terms, warranties, and support obligations, while ensuring compliance with U.S. federal and state regulations. The contract is particularly crucial in today's digital economy where software licensing represents a significant portion of technology transactions.

Suggested Sections

1. Parties: Identification of licensor and licensee with full legal names and addresses

2. Background: Context of the agreement and brief description of the software being licensed

3. Definitions: Key terms used throughout the agreement including Software, Documentation, Intellectual Property Rights, etc.

4. License Grant: Scope of the license, including usage rights and restrictions

5. Payment Terms: License fees, payment schedule, and related financial terms

6. Intellectual Property Rights: Ownership and protection of IP rights in the software

7. Term and Termination: Duration of license and conditions for termination

8. Warranties and Disclaimers: Standard warranties and limitations

Optional Sections

1. Maintenance and Support: Terms for ongoing support and updates - include when ongoing support is part of the agreement

2. Service Level Agreement: Performance metrics and availability guarantees - include for cloud-based or hosted software

3. Data Protection: Privacy and data handling requirements - include when personal data is processed

4. Source Code Escrow: Terms for source code safekeeping - include for business-critical software

Suggested Schedules

1. Software Description: Detailed technical specifications of the licensed software

2. License Fees Schedule: Detailed breakdown of pricing and payment terms

3. Service Level Agreement: Detailed performance metrics and support standards

4. Acceptable Use Policy: Detailed terms of permitted and prohibited use

5. Data Processing Agreement: Detailed data protection and privacy terms - include when personal data is processed

Authors

Alex Denne

Head of Growth (Open Source Law) @ ��Ƶ | 3 x UCL-Certified in Contract Law & Drafting | 4+ Years Managing 1M+ Legal Documents | Serial Founder & Legal AI Author

alex.den.21@genieai.co

Relevant legal definitions

Intellectual Property Rights

Effective Date
Confidential Information

Permitted Use
Business Day
Affiliate

Force Majeure Event

Clauses

Relevant Industries

Technology
Financial Services
Healthcare
Education
Manufacturing

Relevant Teams

Legal
Information Technology
Procurement
Finance
Compliance

Relevant Roles

Chief Technology Officer
Legal Counsel
Software Development Manager
Procurement Manager
IT Director

Industries

Copyright Act: Federal law (17 U.S.C. �� 101-1332) governing copyright protection of original works, including software. Essential for defining intellectual property rights in software licensing.

Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA): Federal law addressing copyright protection in the digital age, including anti-circumvention provisions and safe harbor protections for online service providers.

Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA): Federal law addressing unauthorized access to computers and networks, relevant for security provisions in software licensing.

Federal Trade Commission Act: Federal law governing unfair and deceptive trade practices, affecting how software products can be marketed and licensed.

UCC Article 2B: Uniform Commercial Code provisions specifically dealing with software transactions and licensing.

UCITA: Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act - specific legislation adopted in Virginia and Maryland governing software licenses and information technology contracts.

State Contract Laws: Various state-specific laws governing contract formation, enforcement, and interpretation applicable to software licensing.

State Consumer Protection Laws: State-specific laws protecting consumer rights in software transactions and licensing agreements.

State Data Privacy Laws: State-specific regulations governing data privacy and protection, such as the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).

HIPAA: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act - federal law governing healthcare data privacy, relevant if software handles medical information.

GLBA: Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act - federal law governing financial data privacy, relevant if software handles financial information.

FERPA: Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act - federal law protecting student education records, relevant if software is used in educational contexts.

GDPR Compliance: European Union's General Data Protection Regulation - international consideration if software might be used by EU residents.

Export Control Regulations: Federal regulations governing the export of technology and software to foreign countries or users.

International IP Treaties: Various international treaties protecting intellectual property rights across borders, relevant for global software distribution.

Find the exact document you need

No items found.

Download our whitepaper on the future of AI in Legal

By providing your email address you are consenting to our Privacy Notice.

Thank you for downloading our whitepaper. This should arrive in your inbox shortly. In the meantime, why not jump straight to a section that interests you here: /our-research

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

�ұ�Ծ��’s Security Promise

Genie is the safest place to draft. Here’s how we prioritise your privacy and security.

Your documents are private:

We do not train on your data; �ұ�Ծ��’s AI improves independently

All data stored on Genie is private to your organisation

Your documents are protected:

Your documents are protected by ultra-secure 256-bit encryption

Our bank-grade security infrastructure undergoes regular external audits

We are ISO27001 certified, so your data is secure

Organizational security

You retain IP ownership of your documents

You have full control over your data and who gets to see it

Innovation in privacy:

Genie partnered with the Computational Privacy Department at Imperial College London

Together, we ran a £1 million research project on privacy and anonymity in legal contracts

Want to know more?

Visit our for more details and real-time security updates.

Read our Privacy Policy.

��Ƶ

How ��Ƶ reduced drafting time by 75% for a legal firm

private

sovereign

Careers

Software License Contract Template for United States

Let's create your Software License Contract