Deal types and terms
Exclusivity
An exclusivity clause stops a creator from working with a brand's competitors for a defined period, in a defined product category.
Also called exclusivity clause, category exclusivity, non-compete.
Exclusivity has real cost to a creator, because it removes income they could otherwise earn, so it is priced as a premium on the fee rather than thrown in. A month of category exclusivity is a routine ask. A year is a significant commercial commitment and should be paid for as one.
The clause has to name the category precisely. A clause reading simply beauty could be read to cover skincare, cosmetics, fragrance, and haircare at once, and that ambiguity is where disputes start.
Related terms
- Brand deal
- A brand deal is a paid agreement in which a creator produces and publishes agreed content for a brand in exchange for a fee, product, or commission.
- Usage rights
- Usage rights define where a brand may reuse a creator's content, in what form, and for how long. Without them, the brand may not repost or advertise with the content even though it paid for the post.
- Brand ambassador
- A brand ambassador is a creator under an ongoing contract to represent a brand over months or years, usually posting on a regular schedule and typically bound by exclusivity in the category.
Distinct is the workspace where brands and creators run the work behind these terms. For brands, for creators, or back to the full glossary.