# Can I restrict who my data is sublicensed to?

> Can you restrict sublicensing of company data? You can ask. Some marketplace terms grant sublicensable licenses by default. Polyshares says it accepts limits.

By Matt Burns, Vaultfish. Canonical: https://vaultfish.com/answers/can-i-restrict-who-my-data-is-sublicensed-to  
Published: 2026-07-29  
Updated: 2026-10-14

## The short answer

Yes, you can ask for a limit on who gets your data next. Some marketplace terms, such as SimpleClosure's, grant a sublicensable, perpetual license by default. Polyshares says it accepts contract penalties that limit sublicensing to US-based AI research companies. Have a lawyer draft the limit.

A sublicensing limit says who, if anyone, can receive the license.

> **A sublicense lets your buyer pass your data on to another party.** It works like a library lending a book. A limit decides whether the borrower may lend it on.

## Is sublicensing allowed by default?

It depends on the contract. SimpleClosure's terms for companies that list data grant it a non-exclusive, transferable, sublicensable, perpetual and irrevocable license ([details](/answers/ai-data-licensing-services)). Kled's terms and Wirestock's terms carry similar wording.

Those are marketplace terms, and a direct buyer's contract may differ. No buyer we read publishes its full contract.

## What does Polyshares say about sublicensing limits?

Ryan Lock, a managing partner at Polyshares, wrote that Polyshares offers contract penalties that limit sublicensing to US-based AI research companies ([X article](https://x.com/RyanLockAI/status/2107864069105389717)). He also calls a lack of sublicensing limits a market standard. That is his view alone.

Its site says "Use is bounded by the license" and does not say which labs take data ([terms](https://polyshares.com/data-licensing)).

_Ask who the second buyer is. "Partners" is not a name._

## What kinds of limit can you ask for?

- A named list of allowed recipients.
- A country limit. Check the [DOJ bulk data rule](/answers/does-the-doj-bulk-data-rule-apply-to-selling-company-data) first.
- A use limit, such as research only.
- A penalty or audit right if the buyer breaks the limit.

A limit only works if you can check it. Ask how.

## What should you do next?

Find the grant clause in the draft and read the sublicensing line. The [agreement template](/answers/data-licensing-agreement-template) lists it with the other grant terms. Our [license versus sale page](/answers/license-or-sell-company-data-to-ai) covers who keeps title.

Our only referral relationship is with micro1, an AI data company. It may pay us a fee if a company we introduce goes ahead with it. You pay nothing extra. [How we are paid](https://vaultfish.com/disclosure)

Have a lawyer read any contract before you sign. They like that.

_Vaultfish helps you run the process. We are not lawyers and this is not legal advice. If you need counsel who knows this area, we can point you to one._

## Sources

- [X article](https://x.com/RyanLockAI/status/2107864069105389717)
- [terms](https://polyshares.com/data-licensing)