Creator Contribution Licence
A framework for fair commercial use of creators’ work in the digital and AI economy.
The Creator Contribution Licence is a proposed creator-led framework for negotiating fair terms where creators’ original work and related rights are commercially used. It is not intended to override platform terms automatically, and it does not guarantee payment. Its legal effect depends on the rights a creator owns or controls, the terms agreed in a member mandate and any agreement reached with a company.
Fair terms for a new digital and AI economy.
Platform terms vary, and existing agreements may already grant certain permissions. Public availability does not automatically settle what commercial uses are fair. DCU is focused on helping creators understand, negotiate and authorise specific uses where they own or control the relevant rights.
DCU’s proposed Creator Contribution Licence is designed to give creators a practical framework for understanding, negotiating and authorising specified commercial uses of rights they own or control.
Clear boundaries for a new era.
- Works and rights a creator actually owns or controls.
- Platform permissions already granted by a creator remain separate from any DCU mandate.
- Third-party ads, including Thought Leader Ads and similar.
- AI training, fine-tuning and evaluation for commercial models.
- Enterprise and B2B AI products that monetise your content or data.
- Commercial uses outside permissions already granted may require a separate licence or other lawful authorisation from the relevant rights holder. Where authorised by members, DCU may seek to negotiate those licences collectively.
You keep ownership. We do the licensing work.
Your separate Member Rights Mandate may authorise DCU to explore and negotiate specified rights and uses. Membership alone does not transfer rights or authorise DCU to conclude a binding commercial licence. Unless expressly authorised otherwise, DCU will not enter into a binding commercial licence on your behalf without the required member authority or approval.
Creators may not own every right connected to content they create or publish. Employment agreements, client agreements, commissioned work, co-authored work, music, stock photography, licensed assets, publisher agreements, agency agreements, platform terms, existing licences and AI tool terms may affect what can be licensed.
Important rights check
Creators may not own every right connected to a piece of content. Members should only authorise DCU to act in relation to rights they own or control.
See the full licence
Important: This document is DCU’s proposed contractual framework. It does not transfer copyright ownership and does not guarantee licensing income. Creators should only authorise DCU in relation to rights they own or control. Where ownership or contractual restrictions are uncertain, creators should obtain independent legal advice.
The full Creator Contribution Licence and separate Member Rights Mandate are available as a PDF. The legal text governs.
Download full licence (PDF)