licensing

noun

1. a formal permission to do something; esp. authorization by law to do some specified thing: license to marry, practice medicine, hunt, etc.
2. a document, printed tag, permit, etc. indicating that such permission has been granted
3. 1. freedom to deviate from strict conduct, rule, or practice, generally permitted by common consent: poetic license
   2. an instance of such deviation
4. excessive, undisciplined freedom, constituting an abuse of liberty

transitive verb licensed, licensing