One of my long-term clients recently came to me with a request for a YouTube collaboration agreement. It wasn’t anything unusual. I have clients who work in video production, and a lot of my work revolves around collaboration agreements. But it did spark my thinking about the impact of content creation on business.
This client is not a content creator by profession. Most of his work revolves around creating vertical scroll comics for Webtoon. But over the past few years, many (if not most) of my current clients are creating, posting, and reposting content in one form or another as an aspect of their marketing or distribution efforts including:
Podcasts of industry professionals discussing current events in the business.
Creators live-streaming their experiences at conventions
Video posts from publishers for their Kickstarter campaigns
Artists sharing sample images of their covers
Writers posting blogs commenting on industry developments
Creators selling products on shopping channels
Then I become conscious of the idea that this phenomenon isn’t just limited to comics. Artists, hustlers, and entrepreneurs of all kinds are creating content, whether they enjoy social media or not.
A comedian posts reaction videos from their car to build a following for their stand-up.
A plumber posts how-to videos to get more business
Various video game and movie critics build fan bases by commenting on the latest releases
News outlets, legacy TV shows, and celebrities on every level appear on and launch podcasts to generate buzz outside the studio system.
Influencers and other social media marketers create content to promote their own products or the products of larger conglomerates
The easy ability for anyone with a phone to create content opens up a lot of opportunities, but like many other emerging and independent businesses, there are legal and financial implications of creating content that some of my clients haven’t considered:
Who owns the content you’re creating?
Who decides who gets to see your content or who can take it down?
When can you be sued for the content you post?
How can you make money from your content?
How can you lose money from your content?
What’s the best way to work with other creators to create content?
What happens if you lose access to your audience or your platform?
How do you deal with negative reactions or backlash?
Because so many artists, professionals, and others are in the content creation business, I’m going to start adding my analysis of content creation law to my other entertainment, intellectual property, and publishing posts. It won’t be legal or financial advice, obviously, but hopefully it will help you all navigate this strange new world we live in.
Have fun.
Gamal
PLEASE NOTE: THIS BLOG POST IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR LEGAL ADVICE. IF YOU HAVE A CONTENT, LICENSING OR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ISSUE, DISCUSS IT WITH YOUR LEGAL ADVISOR OR CONTACT C3 FOR A FREE CONSULTATION.