What pirates where licenced so attack other ships?

Pirates who were licensed to attack other ships were known as privateers. These privateers operated under a government-issued letter of marque, which authorized them to capture enemy ships and seize their cargo during wartime. This practice was common in the 16th to 19th centuries, as countries like England, France, and Spain used privateers to augment their naval power without the expense of maintaining a large navy. While privateers engaged in legal forms of piracy, their actions were often indistinguishable from those of regular pirates.