This is part of the world of computer games. A persistent universe is an online virtual universe that keep on evolving whether you are online or not. People pay to get onto the site and play in this universe. Those universes are a lot more ellaborate than those found on CD-ROM games. Here is what one website has to say: "Vicarious Visions has created technology that offers a 24-hour, evolving adventure within a persistent universe and a real-time economy. The persistent universe, which spans the entire solar system, never stops moving and interacting independent of people’s activities. The actions of human and non-human characters as well as the operations of 18 space stations proceed whether or not gamers participate." (http://www.insidemacgames.com/news/archive/00/02/2_22_00.sht...

I think that "l'univers de la licence" refers to a "universe" that is well-known by the general public and is licenced by the person who invented it. For instance the "Star Wars" universe belongs to the Star Wars film makers. If someone wants to make a computer game out of it, it has to be licenced. For example:"Force comander s'avère être le grand rival de Tiberian Sun et pourait bien grace à sa licence emporter les faveures du publique."(sic) or "This new RPG uses a modified version of the engine from Baldur's Gate. This game is once again a Dungeons & Dragons licence set in a world very different to Baldur's Gate and featuring a deeper plot and less combat then in Baldur's Gate." (http://www.gonegold.com/gguide/planescape.shtml) Does that make sense?