In most areas of law, whatever is not forbidden, is permitted. Licensing law is the opposite: you are not permitted to do anything with a protected work unless

In most areas of law, whatever is not forbidden, is permitted. Licensing law is the opposite: you are not permitted to do anything with a protected work unless you have been granted a prior written license. (exceptions: fair use for scientific, non-commercial research, and copyright expiry e.g. seven decades after the death of the author, depending on the jurisdiction, of course.)