to those who may have some knowledge about the type of licencing agreements that are being talked about: Is it the norm that there is an upfront payment made at the time of signing? I know that when a Mining company signs an option agreement with the party who owns/holds the mineral rights to a property it almost always involves an initial payment of cash and sometimes shares as well. This is to seal the deal that in essence transfers the mineral rights for the agreed upon duration.

So even though the licencing agreement may seem quite different there is still something of substance being given over, or atleast shared, in this case intellectual property. I would think this may well require a suitable payment.