In Law, a license is a contract through which a person receives from another person the right to use, copy, distribute, study and modify (in the case of Free Software) several of their goods, normally of a non-tangible or intellectual nature, and may be given in exchange for the payment of a determined amount for their use.

These assets are the property of the grantor, and may be intellectual property assets such as a trademark, patents or technologies. Other goods of an intangible nature, such as the distribution of intellectual works, may also be licensed.

The administrative license is the administrative authorization granted to anyone who wishes to carry out an activity over which the Administration has power. Normally, it refers to municipal authorizations related to land use.