You Can't Just License to Anyone, Can You?

ARTIST NOTE: Clearly outline the limits of any license rights of your work.  Including which pieces can be used by whom, when, and for what purpose. 

REAL LIFE EXAMPLE (The Hollywood Reporter 2014): The mess that was the dispute between Warner Brother’s and one of its producers over the unexpected hit movie, “The Conjuring.”

Long Story Short: Rights were licensed to a media company, who then licensed the rights to Warner Brothers for a movie, and Lionsgate for a TV series.  The parties disputed over which cases they were allowed to use and if Warner Brothers had the rights to create sequels and  spin-offs from its first movie. 

SO, "WHAT'S IN A LICENSE?" Licenses include clear content, territory, distribution and media platform limitations; timelines; extension clauses; and payment schedules amongst a plethora of other small details.  This is to make it clear to both the licensor and licensee how the work can be used, for how long, and for how much.  Without a proper agreement, a lot can be left open for interpretation; particularly the assumption that the license is indefinite and open to expansion without permission.