Licensing Terms to Know

This article provides an overview of essential licensing concepts, agreement types, statuses, user roles, and compliance considerations.

License Types in DBL

DBL supports two license types, which determine how content can be accessed and distributed:

License Type	Definition	Use Case
Open Access	Content is immediately available to DBL members under terms set by the content provider. Often follows Creative Commons licensing.	Used for public-domain translations or widely accessible resources.
Controlled Access	Content requires explicit permission from the contributor before it can be accessed and distributed. Usage terms are defined in a license agreement.	Used for proprietary translations or content with restricted distribution.

A single content item may have multiple agreements.
If at least one agreement is Open Access, the content is classified as open.
If all agreements are Controlled Access, the content remains restricted.

* Select the appropriate license type during agreement creation to prevent misclassification.

Agreement Statuses

Each agreement progresses through specific statuses during its lifecycle.

Status	Description
In Progress	The agreement is being drafted or reviewed.
Pending Approval	The agreement is awaiting final approval from the relevant party.
Active	The agreement has been approved and is currently in effect.
Expiring Soon	The agreement is approaching expiration and may require renewal.
Expired	The agreement has reached its end date and is no longer active.

Learn more in the article, Agreement Lifecycles.

Licensing Roles in DBL

Contributor vs. Distributor

Every agreement in DBL involves two primary roles:

Role	Responsibilities
Contributor	The content provider that owns the rights to a Bible translation or resource and sets the licensing terms.
Distributor	The organization that requests and receives permission to access and distribute content under an approved agreement.

License Management Roles

DBL member organizations assign users with roles to ensure security in agreement management.

Role	Permissions
License Manager	Can create, approve, modify, and archive agreements.
Contributor Admin	Can create and manage agreements for content provided by their organization.
Distributor Admin	Can request agreements but cannot create or modify them.
General Member	View-only access to agreements with no licensing permissions.

Learn more in this article, Organization Roles and Permissions.

Compliance & Security

DBL enforces strict licensing policies to protect content and maintain compliance with copyright laws.

Maintaining compliance records ensures that agreements remain legally enforceable and transparent.

FAQs – Licensing Terms in DBL

What is the difference between a template, a license, and an agreement?

A template defines standard licensing terms, a license outlines the specific rights being granted, and an agreement is the signed contract that puts those rights into effect.

Who can approve an agreement?

Only License Managers and Contributor Admins have permission to approve agreements.

What happens when an agreement expires?

The content is no longer accessible to the distributor.
The agreement remains visible for historical reference.
A new agreement must be created or an existing agreement renewed to restore access.

How do I check if a content item is Open or Controlled Access?

From the DBL dashboard, browse the content library and click the View link next to the content item.
On the content item’s summary page, click on the License tab (under the content item’s name) and scroll down to see what licenses are available.

Open Access content can be immediately accessed by DBL members.
Controlled Access content requires an approved agreement for distribution.

Have more questions?

See article titled Frequently Asked Questions for more answers.