On 26 May 2025, MFMac was thrilled to open this year’s Glasgow Tech Week with a Technology Licensing Masterclass, hosted in collaboration with the Glasgow City Innovation District. Held at our Glasgow office, the event attracted a diverse group of legal, commercial and technology professionals, all eager to explore licensing as a strategic tool for innovation and growth.
The event commenced with opening remarks from Alisdair Gunn, Director of the Glasgow City Innovation District, who highlighted the critical role of Scotland’s technology sector in driving economic development. His comments underscored the importance of collaborative platforms such as Glasgow Tech Week in fostering dialogue between legal advisers, entrepreneurs and industry leaders.
Euan Duncan, Partner in MFMac's Commercial team, delivered a comprehensive overview of licensing frameworks through emphasising their dual role as legal instruments and commercial enablers. Euan explained how well-structured licensing agreements can unlock scalability, facilitate cross-border collaboration and safeguard innovation in fast-moving markets.
Complementing this, Julie Hamilton, Partner in MFMac's Litigation & Dispute Resolution team, addressed the contentious side of licensing. Her insights provided practical guidance on managing disputes, with a focus on pre-emptive structuring and risk mitigation - key considerations for any organisation navigating complex intellectual property landscapes.
The discussion then shifted to real-world application. Katie MacLeod, Associate in MFMac's Commercial team, shared knowledge from her secondment as in-house counsel at a technology company, offering a practitioner’s perspective on negotiating licences in a commercial setting. Keith Turner, Consultant at Five Zero, followed with a strategic view on how licensing underpins Five Zero’s commercialisation model, which demonstrated the alignment between legal design and business execution.
To conclude, attendees participated in an interactive, scenario-based quiz that tested their understanding of licensing principles in practical contexts. The session sparked lively discussion on emerging issues such as AI licensing and data governance, highlighting the evolving nature of legal advice in the tech sector.
At MFMac, we view licensing not as a formality but as a strategic asset. Whether you are scaling a start-up or managing a mature intellectual property portfolio, our team is equipped to support your commercial ambitions with legal insight and sector expertise.
To explore how licensing can support your growth strategy, get in touch with a member from our Manufacturing, Media & Technology team.
