So you install iTunes or you purchase a WordPress theme or whatever it is,

and you find yourself in front of a license that you're supposed to agree to.

Do you ever actually read those or do you just click "Agree"?

Or maybe you've personally asked a photographer for a license to use one of their photos in you app,

and they send you a license agreement, but what does it all mean?

If you ever, ever have any specific questions about a license agreement that you are unsure about,

definitely consult a lawyer.

But even though every license is different, we can at least learn some common terminology used in them and what they mean.

So let's decode a few words.

First, know that there is no standard way to write a license of any kind.

Every company has different lawyers that write these sort of licenses for them,

and every lawyer writes them a little bit differently based on a number of different factors.

So don't expect to see any sort of EULA written the same way twice.

Some are going to be unnecessarily complicated and incomprehensible.

But others, like some of Microsoft's and Google's for example, are written to be pretty human friendly.

Most licenses will explain themselves a little bit up front.

They'll go when we say this, we mean this, this, and this, and that's helpful.

Google even goes out of their way to explain the word "Google".

Saying ""Google" means Google, Inc., whose principal place of business is at 1600 Amphitheatre parkway" et cetera, et cetera.

But often a license will feel like it's expecting you to be a lawyer no matter how well it's trying to explain itself.

So be on the lookout for these important word.

Product. This is whatever you're actually licensing.

Sometimes it's also written as the Service,

and sometimes Product and Service are used interchangeably.

Apple, for example, calls iTunes a Service and anything purchased via iTunes a Product.

Google, on the other hand, bundles all of its products, services, and websites,

and calls them the "Services" in the license agreement for Chrome.

No matter what you're working with, the Product or the Service is generally what you're actually using, the thing you're licensing.

Terms. Terms are what you agree to.

Terms of service, Terms and conditions, whatever it is.

These are the rules that you are agreeing to abide by as long as you're using the Product or the Service.

Term. Now Terms are not to be confused with the word Term, which is not plural.

If a license has an expiration date, that length of time that the license is effective is called a Term.

A Term might be included in the Terms so be on the lookout for that missing "s".

If you're licensing a song for your App or a stock photo for your website, these licenses often don't last forever.

If you can only use something for a year or two until you need to renew the license, then that's pretty important to know about.

Territory. Territory is pretty self-explanatory.

It's the physical location the license is good in.

On the web lots of licenses are world-wide, they apply everywhere.

But there are plenty of licenses that only are effective in certain countries.

It's the reason some songs are available on Spotify in the United Kingdom but not in the United States

or why some software is released only in the United States but not in other countries.

Now on the other hand I've seen licenses that cover "the known universe",

so maybe the Territory won't end up being much of an issue for you.

But making sure that what you are licensing is okay to use not only in your country but in others is a key bit of info.

So Product, Terms, Term, and Territory.

What, how, for how long, and where,

often the most important stuff to look for in any license agreement.