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Content Licensing Agreement

For licensing content you already created — a photo, video, or reel — so a brand can use it in their marketing. Covers where they can use it, how long, on which platforms, exclusivity, and re-licensing restrictions.

Being paid to create new content for a brand instead? See the Branded Content Agreement.

Drafted by a Harvard Law entertainment attorney.

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Is this the right contract for your content?

This contract is built for a creator who lets a brand use content the creator already made. It fits situations where the parties want to set which content is licensed, where and how long it can run, whether the use is exclusive, and what the creator is paid, while ownership stays with the creator.

Good fit for

  • Creators licensing existing photos, videos, or posts to a brand
  • Brands that want to reuse a creator's content in their own channels
  • Deals where the content runs in paid ads
  • Short, fixed-term licenses with clear limits
  • Licenses where ownership stays with the creator

You may also need

Before you start

It helps to have these details on hand before you create your contract:

  • Creator (licensor) and brand (licensee) names
  • The specific content being licensed
  • Where the content can be used
  • How long the license lasts
  • Whether the license is exclusive or non-exclusive
  • The territory
  • The license fee and payment timing
  • Any credit or attribution requirements

What's Inside This Contract

Grant of license

Identifies the licensed content and sets the permitted and restricted uses.

Term and territory

States how long the license lasts and the geographic area it covers.

Compensation

Covers the license fee and when it is paid.

Intellectual property

Confirms the creator keeps ownership and sets post-term obligations.

Representations and warranties

Each side's promises about rights, originality, and lawful use.

Termination

How the license can end and what happens to the content afterward.

Disputes and general provisions

Covers standard terms such as notices, how disputes are handled, and signatures.

Points Worth Negotiating

  • Which content is included and where it can run
  • How long the license lasts
  • Whether the license is exclusive or non-exclusive
  • Whether the brand can edit or re-cut the content
  • Whether the content can be used in paid ads

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a content licensing agreement?
It lets a brand use content you already created. It sets which content is included, where it can run, for how long, and what you are paid.
Who should sign a content licensing agreement?
The creator (the licensor) and the brand (the licensee) both sign. If the creator works through a company, the company signs, and a guardian signs for a creator who is a minor.
How is licensing different from a branded content agreement?
Branded content is about creating new sponsored posts. Licensing is about letting a brand use content you already made. Some deals include both.
Does the brand own my content after licensing?
No. A license lets the brand use the content under set terms, and ownership stays with the creator. Confirm this in the agreement.
What should I watch for in the license length?
Check how long the brand can use the content and on which platforms. Short, clearly defined terms are easier to track than open-ended or perpetual rights.
What should I have ready before creating it?
Have the creator and brand names, the content being licensed, where it can run, the license length and territory, whether it is exclusive, the fee and payment timing, and any credit requirements.
Should I choose the custom contract or the editable template?
Choose the custom contract to answer a few questions and have it filled in for you. Choose the editable template if you prefer a blank version with labeled fields to complete yourself.
What are common warning signs in a content licensing agreement?

These are common issues to watch for in any content licensing agreement:

  • License runs forever with no end date
  • Brand can use content on any platform without limits
  • Broad editing rights with no creator approval
  • Ownership of the content transfers when only a license was intended
  • No clear fee or payment deadline
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