buy the rights

verb2

1. •
   To acquire the legal rights to a work, property, story, or intellectual creation, especially for purposes such as publication, adaptation, or distribution.

   • The studio decided to buy the rights to the novel before any competitors could bid.
2. •
   (informal) Used as a rebuke to someone seeking information for free.

   • Jumped into the Chevy, headed for big lights Wanna know the rest? Hey, buy the rights. — 1995