Node-by-node licensing is Knotwell’s main job. This page describes the default license tiers that surface on every asset record, how custom terms interact with the chain, what flows downstream, and the limits of what Knotwell will enforce on your behalf.

Default license tiers

Every Knotwell asset defaults to one of three license tiers the creator picks at publish time:

  • Personal. Use by one person for non-commercial work.
  • Commercial. Use in commercial products and services, but not for resale or white-label.
  • Extended. Resale and white-label included; the upstream shares you set are what get paid.

Each tier is a single permission knob. Knotwell does not invent hidden sub-tiers; the tier you select is the tier the buyer is buying.

Custom terms posture

You may also write long-form custom terms in the asset editor. The custom terms are surfaced on the asset record and the checkout page. Custom terms are honoured to the extent the buyer agrees to them at the time of purchase.

Knotwell does not enforce custom terms on your behalf in disputes between creators and buyers that fall outside the platform’s refund window. Custom terms are an agreement between you and the buyer; they do not bind Knotwell to take action on your behalf.

Downstream propagation

When you compose a new asset from upstream pieces, the upstream license tier constrains what you can do with the composite. For example, you cannot combine a Personal asset into a bundle sold commercially. Knotwell displays the lowest tier in the chain on the composite’s record so buyers see what they’re getting.

Each upstream creator keeps their license decision. A downstream creator cannot rewrite an upstream license — only the upstream creator can publish a new version with a different (more permissive) tier.

What Knotwell does NOT enforce

To set expectations honestly:

  • Knotwell does not audit buyers to confirm they’re honouring your license.
  • Knotwell does not police copyrighted material at scale; that’s the Copyright & DMCA workflow.
  • Knotwell does not arbitrate disputes about creative ownership outside our refund window.
  • Knotwell does not guarantee that any future version of your asset will be licensed identically to the current version.

Changes

We may update this licensing policy. Material changes will be announced by email or in-product with at least 14 days’ notice.

Contact

Licensing questions: support@knotwell.co.