5 Legal Musts to Cover in Creator Contracts

The need to constantly create content came along with the rise of the internet and social media. Moreover, it has made outsourcing content creation more common in many industries. If you want to stay at the top of the game, you need to understand the value of great content.

But before you proceed to outsource, there are some things you need to consider, especially with contracts for content creators. This way, you can protect your business from issues.

1. Copyright

Simply paying someone to create content does not mean they’re turning over the copyright of that content to the end-user. If you don’t specifically list the terms of use in your contract, the content creator maintains ownership of the content.

Moreover, only having an implied license means you’ll need to express permission to repurpose content for other things, including turning it into a blog post, an ebook, or a social media post.

You should also consider protection against indemnification for content and images that others may own. After all, you’ll be responsible for all content published on your site or in any related materials, including those that may have breached copyright law.

Also Read:How Contracts for Social Media Content Creators Should Look

2. Outsourcing Needs

You need to be specific with your outsourcing requirements so that content creators understand and know your expectations. That includes benchmarking and measuring success or failure. In addition, it’s best to insert a Service Level Agreement that outlines performance details and standards.

3. Legal Liabilities

Take precautions if the outsourced content is subject to any regulatory requirements. For instance, publishing medical content and financial advice needs to include appropriate disclaimers to guarantee that the produced content meets specific standards that will protect your business legally.

If the content on your website can be used to hold you legally liable, ensure that your outsourced creators can meet any needed requirements.

4. Termination of Contract

In the best-case scenario, you’ll find a freelancing content creator who’s in for a long-term partnership with you. However, turnover is inevitable and there will come a time when the contract ends. So, it’s best to protect yourself upfront.

Be sure to include a termination clause that details the conditions under which you can exit the outsourcing agreement. This clause must outline the general reasons that give you and your company the rights to exit the clause, along with the contractor’s rights.

Moreover, you should include both parties’ respective rights upon termination relevant to privacy and protection in the clause.

Also Read: 4 Things Your Freelance Contracts Need to Include

5. Everything Else

After covering your legal bases, be sure to document them in a formal written contract that you and the content creator will sign. Still, it’s best to consult a lawyer when you get to the contract signing.

If you cannot afford a lawyer, you can find simple contract agreements that you can modify and tweak according to your own needs.

The Wrap

When you outsource any service, such as content creation, it’s best to outline the legal aspects and put everything in a contract. That way, your partnership is official and the relationship is purely professional. Both parties can also cover any aspect of the partnership, such as expectations, requirements, and more.

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