The Fall 2025 Cohort is Now Open for pre-registration. Classes will begin on September 1st! We will be capping registration for this course at 20 students and there are currently 20 spots available. Registration will remain open until October 31st or when spots are filled. Register Now!
Licensing Digital Content is for anyone new to licensing digital content or those who'd like to enhance their current knowledge base. We focus on practical skills you can immediately apply in your library or organization. And there's time to review and discuss your individual circumstances in our 24/7 online discussion forum and our Zoom virtual sessions.
Working on your own schedule in our easy-to-use online learning system, you'll have access to the course materials for four months and can download the lessons for future reference. The expected time to complete this course is 25 to 35 hours.
As always, our personal touch remains a hallmark of our copyright education. We’ll work with you to help you schedule learning time in your busy and perhaps disrupted schedule, and provide extensions where necessary. Our goal is to encourage and assist you in completing this course.
See our outstanding DLC graduates and their testimonials.
The Certificate in Licensing Digital Content includes three eTutorials (see details below):
- Introduction to Licensing Digital Content
- Digital Licensing Terms and Conditions
- Negotiating and Managing Digital Licenses
Learning Outcomes from the Certificate in Licensing Digital Content
By participating in Copyrightlaws.com’s Certificate in Licensing Digital Content, you’ll be able to:
- Describe the principles of digital content licensing
- Understand the interplay of copyright and contracts when licensing electronic resources
- Understand commonly used license terms and conditions
- Interpret license agreements and identify your enterprise’s unique needs with confidence
- Gain insight on educating end-users about how to legally use licensed content
- Negotiate the best possible license agreements for your library or organization
- Manage multiple digital content licenses effectively
We'll work with you to:
- Enhance your breadth of knowledge of licensing principles
- Lower your risk of license violations
- Increase your knowledge of when and how to negotiate changes to licenses offered by vendors
- Find practical solutions to your day-to-day licensing questions and issues
- Gain the confidence you need to be a licensing leader in your organization
The Certificate in Licensing Digital Content exceeded my expectations. While it is not a substitute for a lawyer, it definitely provides anyone who deals with licenses a wider toolset for understanding their own needs, rights and obligations. I absolutely recommend this program. The price is very reasonable for the depth of information and tools provided. The material was thought out, well written, and organized and presented efficiently. The virtual classroom provided a fun way to hear the experiences of other students.
— Scott Anderson, Library Technician, College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC (July 2019)
I definitely learned a lot from this program. I now understand license agreements and have the confidence to provide input to my manager and contribute to meetings with database vendors. The program is really well done and I recommend it to others.
— Chia-Hua Wallis Sung, MLIS (January 2020)
Who Should Enroll in the Certificate in Licensing Digital Content?
The Certificate in Licensing Digital Content is primarily aimed at:
- Employees of libraries and other for- and nonprofit organizations that license digital content and e-resources such as databases, journals and periodicals
- Content owners such as aggregators and publishers
- Anyone who interprets, negotiates or manages digital licenses
Features of the Certificate in Licensing Digital Content
- Three eTutorials on key aspects of licensing digital content that you can review at your own pace on your own schedule (see our FAQs About Copyright and Licensing eTutorials)
- Exclusive tools to help you negotiate and manage licenses in your enterprise
- 24/7 online forum where you can ask questions, engage in discussions and network with other licensing professionals
- Zoom virtual classroom meetings
- Reference materials and resources (including tools) for use after you earn your certificate
- A Certificate in Licensing Digital Content for those who successfully complete the program
- A public listing of the certificate holders on Copyrightlaws.com
- This self-paced program offers flexible enrollment and you'll have three months to complete it
Course Descriptions
The Certificate in Licensing Digital Content includes three eTutorials on digital licensing that address the know-how and skills you need to understand, interpret, negotiate and manage licensing agreements tailored to your library or organization’s specific needs.
Course #1: Introduction to Digital Licensing
A good license agreement can make it easy to access, use and share licensed digital content. Learn essential steps toward the best licenses for your library or organization, the relationship between copyright and licenses, licensing language and debunking licensing myths.
Syllabus: Introduction to Digital Licensing
Introduction to Digital Licensing includes 10 e-lessons addressing the following topics:
- Why Understanding Licensing Is Essential
- Key Licensing Concepts
- Copyright, Contracts and Licensing Agreements
- Global Licensing Issues
- Why Each License is Unique
- Essential Steps Toward Your License Arrangement
- Components of a Licensing Policy
- Ensuring Others Legally Use Content Under Your Licenses
- Debunking Licensing Misconceptions
- Digital Licensing Questions and Answers
Course #2: Digital Licensing Terms and Conditions
This course delves into commonly found license terms and conditions, also called clauses, and when to use them in your licenses. Think of this course as a checklist for clauses to include in or omit from your license agreements. It’s essential for those who interpret or negotiate license agreements.
Syllabus: Digital Licensing Terms and Conditions
There are 11 e-lessons in Digital Licensing Terms and Conditions on the following topics:
- Definitional Clauses
- Rights Granted
- Sublicenses, Interlibrary Loan and Fair Use
- Usage and Usage Restrictions
- License Fees and Pricing Models
- Licensor Obligations
- Licensee Obligations
- Authorized Users, Territory and Ownership of Content
- Termination, Warranties and Indemnities
- Boilerplate Clauses, Part I
- Boilerplate Clauses, Part II and Best Practices
Course #3: Negotiating and Managing Digital Licenses
This course examines the art of negotiation for license agreements. It provides you with practical tips and strategies so your licenses reflect the terms and conditions your library or organization needs. It further helps you to effectively manage multiple digital licenses.
Syllabus: Negotiating and Managing Digital Licenses
The nine e-lessons in Negotiating and Managing Digital Licenses cover the following topics:
- The Meaning of Negotiation
- A Mindful Approach to Negotiation
- Preparing for Negotiations
- During the Negotiations
- License Format and Administration
- Future-Looking Licenses
- Managing Your Licenses
- Negotiating and Managing Licenses Q&A
- Best Practices for Negotiating and Managing Digital Licenses
Who Should Enroll in the Certificate in Licensing Digital Content?
Our digital licensing course is primarily aimed at:
- Employees of libraries and other for- and nonprofit organizations that license digital content and e-resources such as databases, journals and periodicals
- Content owners such as aggregators and publishers
- Anyone who interprets, negotiates or manages digital licenses
Further Testimonials for the Certificate in Licensing Digital Content
I used the theory in the course materials to get my organization out of many contracts; actively prepped for conversations, laid out the reality of the organization’s financial situation, and provided alternatives. All of my proposals were agreed to. That we were able to do that is a success I’m very proud of, and the course materials — the timing of which paralleled beautifully the work I was doing — proved exceptionally helpful.
— Mary Henricksen, Interim Executive Director, Ontario Film Authority (January 2020)
This course crystallized what I have practiced throughout my work in licensing and has given me additional information and advice. I really like the format. It allowed me to pace the readings according to my other work demands. The quizzes in each lesson were very helpful and are one of my favorite parts of the course. I will now be more organized and systematic about licensing and think about the broader picture and not just the specific license I am working on. I highly recommend this program!
— Sylvie Poirot, Copyright Officer, International Monetary Fund (July 2019)
The Licensing Digital Content program provided me with a great overview of digital licensing processes, terminology, and sources to keep me current. And I liked the quizzes in each lesson. They were extremely helpful to verify that I understood the key points in each lesson.
— Andrea McCarrick, Technical Editor (July 2019)
The Certificate in Licensing Digital Content has given me a foundation on which I am now ready to move forward! I’m better equipped to work with vendors to procure licenses to different products. During busy periods at work, I could set the course aside for a few days until I had time to dedicate to the lessons. I will now be assuming responsibility for digital licenses and contracts within my library. I will be able to use the knowledge gained in this course when renegotiating with existing vendors or creating licenses with new vendors. This is a great course!
— Emily Newman, Research and E-Services Librarian, Canada (January 2019)
About the Instructor
Erin Gurski is the instructor for the Certificate in Licensing Digital Content. A copyright professional with 10+ years experience, including several with Copyrightlaws.com, she is excited to lead this cohort.
