Contract template
UGC Creator Contract Template
Quick answer
A UGC creator contract is a written agreement where you make content for a brand to use on its own channels or in ads. It should state the deliverables, revisions, usage rights, payment, and what happens if the project is cancelled.
Key takeaways
- UGC pays for the content and for the right to use it, so usage terms matter as much as the fee.
- Name every deliverable, and say that anything not listed is extra.
- Put an end date, the channels, and the territory on every usage right, and price paid ads separately.
- Agree on payment dates and a kill fee before you shoot.
When to use this template
Use this when a brand hires you to make content that it will use itself, for example on its website, social channels, or ads, and you are not posting it to your own audience. If you will also publish the content on your own channels, use the Sponsored Content Contract. If the work repeats every month, use the Creator Retainer Contract.
The template
Copy the text below, fill in every part in square brackets, and delete any optional clause you do not need. Read the notes under the template before you send it.
UGC Content Creation Agreement
This agreement is made on [date] between [creator legal name], of [creator address] (“Creator”), and [brand legal name], of [brand address] (“Brand”).
Project. Brand hires Creator to make content for the campaign called [campaign name] (the “Project”). The Project is described in the brief dated [date], which both parties have confirmed in writing.
Deliverables. Creator will deliver: [number] video(s) of about [length] each, [number] photo(s), and [other items], in these formats: [formats and aspect ratios]. Anything not listed here is outside this agreement.
Timeline. Creator will deliver first drafts by [date] and final files by [date]. Brand will give written feedback within [number] business days of receiving each draft. If Brand is late with feedback or materials, Creator’s dates move by the same number of days.
Revisions. The fee includes [number] round(s) of revisions for each deliverable, as long as the changes stay within the brief. New concepts, reshoots, extra versions, or changes to the brief are extra. They need Brand’s written approval and a fee of [rate or fee structure] before work starts.
Usage rights. Creator keeps ownership of the content. Creator grants Brand a license to use the final content as follows. Channels: [list]. Type of use: [organic only / paid ads / whitelisting or partnership ads / other]. Start date: [date]. End date: [date]. Territory: [region]. Edits: [Brand may not edit the content, other than permitted edits such as trimming for length or adding captions]. Any other use, any extension, and any sublicense to a third party needs Creator’s written agreement and an added fee. When the license ends, Brand will stop using the content in new placements and will take it down from paid ads within [number] days.
Likeness, voice, and AI. Brand may use Creator’s name, image, and voice only in the final content and only as this agreement allows. Brand will not use the content, or Creator’s likeness or voice, to train AI tools or to create new content without Creator’s separate written permission.
Fee and payment. Brand will pay Creator [total fee] in [currency]. A deposit of [amount or percentage] is due by [date]. The balance is due within [net terms] days of Creator’s invoice. Creator may invoice [on signing / on delivery of final files / on approval]. Late payments may be charged [late fee or interest], where the law allows.
Approval. If Brand does not reply to a draft within the feedback window, Creator may treat the draft as approved.
Cancellation and kill fee. If Brand cancels before Creator starts work, [the deposit is not refunded / the deposit is refunded less [amount]]. If Brand cancels after work starts, Brand will pay for the work done up to that date and at least [kill fee amount or percentage] of the fee. If Brand rejects delivered work that follows the brief, Brand will still pay [percentage or amount] of the fee. If illness or an emergency stops Creator from finishing on time, the parties will agree a new schedule in good faith.
Exclusivity (optional). [None. / Creator will not make paid content for [competitor category] from [start date] to [end date], for an added fee of [fee].]
Disclosure and platform rules. Brand will give Creator any required claims, tags, and legal wording in writing before work starts. Creator will follow the rules of each platform and the advertising rules that apply when posting content for Brand.
Confidentiality. Each party will keep the other’s non-public information private until [date], except as needed to carry out this agreement or as the law requires.
Ending this agreement. Either party may end this agreement with [number] days written notice. Brand will pay for work completed up to the date it ends.
General. This is the whole agreement and replaces earlier talks. Changes must be in writing. The laws of [state or country] apply. The parties may sign electronically and in counterparts.
Signatures. Creator: [name], [date]. Brand: [name and title], [date].
What to look for in each clause
| Clause | What to look for | What you can ask for |
|---|---|---|
| Deliverables | Vague wording like “and related content,” or no count, length, or format | List every item with its count, length, and format, and state that anything else is extra |
| Revisions | No limit, or no line between a revision and a new request | A cap on rounds, and a fee for extra rounds and new requests |
| Usage rights | “All media,” no end date, paid ads or whitelisting not named | Named channels, an end date, a territory, and paid ads priced as their own line |
| Ownership | “Work for hire,” “all rights,” or “assigns” | A license only, and the right to show the work in your portfolio |
| Likeness, voice, and AI | Silence on your face, voice, or AI use | Written limits on likeness, voice, and AI use |
| Payment | No due date, pay only after “final approval,” no deposit | A deposit, net terms, and an invoice on delivery |
| Cancellation | The brand can cancel or reject work and pay nothing | A kill fee, a non-refundable deposit, and pay for rejected work that followed the brief |
| Exclusivity | A broad category, long dates, no fee | None, or a narrow category with dates and its own fee |
| Ending the agreement | One-sided notice, or no payment for work already done | Mutual notice and pay for completed work |
Ways UGC deals go wrong
- The contract says “all media” and the brand later runs your video as an ad for months.
- Revisions have no limit, so a short shoot turns into weeks of edits.
- Payment waits on approval, and approval never comes.
- Raw footage and extra cutdowns are requested after the fee is agreed.
Frequently asked questions
What is a UGC contract?
It is a written agreement for content you make for a brand to use on its own channels or in ads. It sets the deliverables, the usage rights, the fee, and what happens if the project changes or ends.
Who owns UGC content?
In general, the creator owns what they make unless the contract transfers ownership. Most UGC deals license the content to the brand for a set time. Read for “work for hire” and “all rights.”
Can a brand run my UGC as ads?
Only if the contract allows it. Paid ads and whitelisting should be named, time-limited, and priced separately.
Do I need a contract for a small UGC job?
Yes. A short written agreement protects both sides, and the same clauses apply however small the job is.