Glossary
What is AI data licensing? Definitions for Canadian firms
Short answer: AI data licensing is when a company grants an AI developer the right to use a copy of its operating records, such as documents, emails, tickets and workflow, to train or evaluate AI models, in exchange for payment. The company usually keeps its originals and ownership, and personal and confidential information is removed first.
Plain-English definitions of the terms buyers, privacy lawyers and this site use.
Last updated · Sources linked inline · Buyer figures observed Oct 16, 2026
What do the key terms mean?
- AI data licensing
- Granting an AI developer defined rights to use a copy of your organization's records to train or evaluate AI models, for payment. You usually keep the originals and ownership.
- Operating records
- The everyday output of a business: emails, chat, documents, tickets, wikis, workflow and system histories, as distinct from published content.
- Data buyer program
- A public program in which an AI developer or data company pays organizations for data, with stated terms such as ranges, minimums and record types.
- Referral bounty
- A fee a buyer pays whoever introduces a company that goes on to sign.
- Licensing agent or marketplace
- An intermediary that licenses an owner's data to other buyers, or runs a marketplace, and pays the owner a share.
- De-identification
- Removing or replacing direct identifiers. Under Quebec's Law 25, de-identified information is still personal information.
- Anonymization
- Irreversibly processing information so individuals can no longer be identified, directly or indirectly. The OPC notes truly anonymous information generally isn't personal information.
- Personal information
- Information about an identifiable individual (PIPEDA). Business contact information used only for business communication is treated differently.
- PIPEDA
- Canada's federal private-sector privacy law. It applies to commercial activity in most provinces and to personal information crossing provincial or national borders.
- Law 25
- Quebec legislation modernizing its private-sector privacy law. Among other things, it requires a privacy impact assessment before personal information is communicated outside Quebec.
- Privacy impact assessment (PIA)
- A documented review of privacy risks and protections before a project or transfer goes ahead.
- CASL
- Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation. Commercial electronic messages need consent, sender identification and a working unsubscribe.
- Express vs implied consent (CASL)
- Express consent is an active opt-in (never a pre-checked box). Implied consent arises in limited cases, such as an inquiry (six months) or conspicuous publication relevant to the person's role.
- Exclusivity
- A licence term that stops you licensing the same records to others for a period. Some programs are exclusive by default.
- Indicative range
- A non-binding range based on published tiers. Only a buyer's sampling and agreement set a price.
- Scope
- The written list of record sources included in, and excluded from, a licence.
- Professional confidentiality
- Duties in codes such as CPA Ontario Rule 208 and LSO Rule 3.3-1 to keep client information confidential unless the client consents.
How do licensing, selling and brokering differ?
| Model | What you give | Who pays you | Typical terms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct licence | A copy plus defined usage rights | The AI developer or data company | Range set after sampling; you keep ownership |
| Sale / assignment | Ownership of the dataset | The buyer | Rare for operating records; read carefully |
| Agent or marketplace | Rights to relicense to others | The agent, from buyer revenue | Revenue share or success fee |
| Referral or introduction | Nothing | n/a; the buyer may pay the introducer | Introducer fees should be disclosed to you |
Sources: OPC privacy law summary · CRTC CASL FAQ · CAI Québec · Who Sells Data register
Next: the complete guide to licensing your firm's data to AI in Canada.