Most UGC disputes aren't about anything dramatic — they're about a term nobody wrote down. "I thought that included ads." "I thought two revisions were free." A contract that covers six specific things prevents almost all of it.
The six things that actually matter
1. Deliverables. What exactly are you making — how many videos, what platform, what format. Vague deliverables lead to vague expectations on both sides.
2. Timeline. Draft due date, feedback window, final due date. Without dates, "soon" means something different to everyone.
3. Revisions. How many rounds are included, and what extra rounds cost. (Full breakdown in the revision policy template.)
4. Usage rights. Where the content can run, for how long, and whether it's exclusive. (See how to charge for usage rights for pricing each.)
5. Payment. Total fee, deposit terms, when the balance is due, and what happens if it's late.
6. Ownership. Who owns the content, and when rights transfer. This is the clause that protects you most.
Ownership until paid is the clause that actually has teeth. Stating that you retain ownership of the content until payment is received in full means a brand using your work before paying is using something they don't yet have the rights to — a much stronger position than a vague "please pay me."
You don't need to start from a blank page
Writing all six sections from scratch every time is how creators end up skipping the ones that feel awkward (revisions, late payment). Start from the free UGC Contract Template instead — all six sections already structured, ready to fill in and send.
When to get a real legal review
A plain-language contract covering these six areas is enough for the overwhelming majority of standard UGC deals. It's worth a quick legal look when a deal is unusually large, involves a long exclusivity period, or includes terms you don't fully understand — the cost of a review is small next to the cost of a bad clause on a big deal.
How this works on Plug
Inside Plug, the contract, the license certificate, and getting paid all live on the same deal record — instead of a PDF you have to track down six months later when a question comes up. Get the free template to start, or see how UGC deals work end to end on Plug.