What happens to your data when a licence ends?
Understand the difference between ending future use, deleting raw records and dealing with models or derivatives already created.
Ending a licence and deleting a dataset are not the same as reversing everything made with it. Ask what stops, what must be removed and what may remain before you sign, not when you want to leave.
Start by separating the different things involved
Ask separately about original exports, working copies, backups, prepared datasets, trained models and synthetic outputs. If a clause addresses only data, ask whether it covers every category. Have your adviser clarify the definitions and the obligations for each.
What can stop?
Ask whether you can stop providing future updates, stop new licensing or terminate particular rights. Check the notice period and conditions. Do not assume ending your relationship with an intermediary automatically cancels a buyer's existing licence. The actual agreements need to answer that question.
What does deletion require?
Ask who will delete which copies, the deadline and how deletion will be verified. What needs to be retained, for what reason and for how long? Check who can access retained copies and what they may do with them. The word deleted is not a complete explanation of the process.
Does deletion undo AI training?
Deleting source files is different from removing their influence from a trained model. Do not assume cancellation automatically removes model weights, outputs or other derivatives. Ask what the contract requires, what is technically feasible and what rights may continue. Avoid both a promise of complete reversal and an assumption that nothing can ever be remedied.
What if the problem is misuse rather than ordinary expiry?
Ask how suspected unauthorised use, disclosure or identifying information is reported and handled. Have counsel distinguish ordinary expiry from a breach, an incident or an applicable legal obligation. Those situations may require different responses. Keep contact details and responsibilities documented.
Have this conversation before any transfer
Write down the answers for each category: what stops, what is removed, what remains and who verifies it. Maryah onboarding starts with counts and screenshots. Raw data moves only after a buyer deal is agreed, so the first conversation does not require an upload. This guide provides general information, not legal advice or a guarantee about a particular agreement.