A Patent knowhow licence combines two valuable intellectual property rights in one agreement: patent rights and confidential technical knowledge. It lets Belgian companies share both their patented innovations and the practical expertise needed to use them effectively. Think of it as getting both the recipe and the chef's secret techniques.

Under Belgian IP law, these licenses help businesses maximize their technology transfers by protecting both registered patents and unpatented technical secrets. Companies often use them in manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and engineering sectors, where hands-on expertise is just as crucial as the formal patent rights. The agreement typically includes training, technical documentation, and ongoing support to ensure successful implementation.

A Patent knowhow licence becomes essential when you're ready to share both patented technology and the practical expertise needed to use it successfully. For example, if you've developed a specialized manufacturing process in Belgium and want to license it to another company, simply sharing the patent rights often isn't enough - the licensee needs your team's hands-on knowledge too.

This combined license works particularly well for complex technical innovations where practical implementation requires significant expertise. Belgian companies in pharmaceuticals, chemical processing, or advanced manufacturing use these agreements when transferring technology internationally or across industry partnerships. It protects both the patent holder and ensures the licensee gets the full knowledge needed for successful implementation.

• Exclusive Patent knowhow licences: Grant sole rights to one licensee in Belgium, typically including geographic restrictions and minimum performance requirements
• Non-exclusive licences: Allow multiple licensees to use the technology and knowhow, common in broader commercialization strategies
• Limited-field licences: Restrict use to specific industries or applications while preserving rights for other sectors
• Time-limited variations: Set specific duration periods for both patent and knowhow rights, often with renewal options
• Hybrid agreements: Combine patent knowhow licensing with manufacturing agreements or distribution rights

• Patent Holders: Usually innovative companies or research institutions that want to monetize their technology while sharing essential technical knowledge
• Licensee Companies: Businesses seeking to implement patented technologies, often manufacturers or industrial firms needing both legal rights and practical expertise
• IP Lawyers: Draft and negotiate Patent knowhow licence terms, ensuring compliance with Belgian intellectual property laws
• Technical Experts: Help define the scope of knowhow transfer and provide training specified in the agreement
• Company Directors: Make strategic decisions about licensing and oversee implementation of the technology transfer

• Patent Details: Gather all patent registration numbers, filing dates, and jurisdictional coverage in Belgium and abroad
• Technical Scope: Document the specific knowhow being transferred, including training requirements and documentation needs
• Commercial Terms: Define royalty rates, payment structures, and any minimum performance requirements
• Usage Rights: Specify territorial limits, field restrictions, and sublicensing permissions
• Confidentiality Needs: Identify sensitive technical information requiring protection beyond the patent period
• Quality Control: Outline standards and monitoring processes for proper technology implementation

• Identification Section: Full details of both parties and the specific patents being licensed under Belgian law
• Scope of Rights: Clear definition of patent rights and knowhow being transferred, including any territorial or field-of-use limitations
• Technical Knowledge: Detailed description of the knowhow, training obligations, and documentation requirements
• Financial Terms: Royalty calculations, payment schedules, and reporting obligations
• Confidentiality Provisions: Protection measures for both patent and knowhow information
• Quality Control: Standards for implementation and monitoring mechanisms
• Term and Termination: Duration, renewal options, and grounds for early termination

A Patent knowhow licence differs significantly from a Patent assignment agreement in both scope and purpose. While both deal with patent rights, they serve fundamentally different business objectives under Belgian law.

• Ownership Transfer: A Patent assignment agreement permanently transfers ownership of the patent, while a Patent knowhow licence only grants usage rights while maintaining original ownership
• Knowledge Sharing: Patent knowhow licences include detailed provisions for transferring technical expertise and training, which assignment agreements typically don't address
• Duration: Licences are typically time-limited with renewal options, while assignments are permanent transfers
• Ongoing Relationship: Knowhow licences create continuing obligations between parties for support and knowledge transfer, unlike assignments which are one-time transactions
• Financial Structure: Licences usually involve ongoing royalties, while assignments typically use one-time payment models