The exclusive rights granted to a copyright holder can all be licensed, but they vary depending on local law.

Only the copyright holder/owner can grant permission (known as a ‘licence’) to others to use, print, copy, display, distribute, perform, modify or sell the work.

Even when a work is licensed, the copyright and moral rights of the work all remain with the copyright holder. An individual may obtain a licence from the copyright holder to copy the work, but the terms of the licence will vary with the nature of the work and what the individual seeking the licence (i.e. the licensee) wishes to do with it.

These licences may be complex, because the exclusive rights granted by the copyright owner can be split in terms of jurisdiction/territory, or with respect to language. Also, the sequence of uses may be fixed, and the number of copies to be made and their subsequent adaptation and/or use may also be specified.

Through licences or other contracts, the copyright owner may transfer or assign his/her entire interest in all or some of the rights in the copyrighted work.