When companies talk about licensing, the terms technology licensing and patent licensing often get blurred together. Both are about giving another party the right to use something valuable, but they operate in very different ways.

Understanding the difference is not just a legal detail. It can define whether a licensing strategy works, whether it brings in meaningful revenue, and whether the licensee can actually use what they have paid for.

One of the most common triggers is that something of value was developed, but is no longer used internally. Think of technologies tied to discontinued products, or tools developed for internal use that others might find useful. These assets just sit there, protected by IP, costing money to maintain, yet creating no value.

That's your signal. But it’s not the only one.