UGC usage rights, whitelisting & Spark Ads
Usage rights define where, for how long and on which channels you can run a UGC video: organic use only, or paid use (ads), for a given duration and territory. Whitelisting (TikTok Spark Ads, Meta Partnership Ads) means running the ad from the creator's account rather than from your own, to keep their identity and credibility. The broader the use (ads, worldwide, long duration), the higher the surcharge. On UGC Pocket, rights are framed through 3 services and specified in the brief: you set the budget (€50 to €2,000/creator), with no subscription.
What UGC usage rights are
When a creator delivers you a video, they grant you a usage license, not an unlimited transfer by default. This license answers three questions:
- What use? Organic (posting on your accounts / the creator's, with no ad budget) or paid (turning the video into a funded ad). Paid use is more valuable, so it costs more.
- What duration? A license typically runs for 3, 6 or 12 months. Beyond that, you renegotiate or stop running it.
- What territory? France, Europe, worldwide. Worldwide use is worth more than national use.
Specifying these three points up front avoids disputes. It's one of the 8 blocks of our UGC brief template: state the service, the duration and the channels before the creator films.
Whitelisting & Spark Ads
Whitelisting (also called "creator licensing" or "partnership ads") means running an ad from the creator's account instead of the brand's official account. The ad keeps the creator's handle, photo and history: so it looks more authentic and less "advertising-y."
TikTok Spark Ads
Spark Ads let you boost an organic video posted on the creator's account into a paid ad. The creator generates an authorization code from the TikTok app, which you use in the ads manager. The benefit: organic likes, comments and shares accumulate alongside those generated by the ad, and the video keeps the creator's identity. (See the official TikTok Ads documentation.)
Meta Partnership Ads
On Instagram and Facebook, the equivalent is called Partnership Ads (formerly Branded Content Ads). The creator authorizes your ad account to promote their post or to create an ad in their name. The ad carries the "Paid partnership" label and the creator's handle. (See the Meta Business help center.)
In both cases, whitelisting requires an explicit, time-limited authorization from the creator: which is precisely what usage rights frame.
How much rights cost
Rights are not a fixed price: they are added on top of the video's production cost, depending on the use, territory and duration. Here are indicative surcharge ranges, expressed as a percentage of the video price (to be negotiated case by case).
| Scope | Indicative surcharge | What for |
|---|---|---|
| Organic only | Included | Posting on your accounts / the creator's |
| Ads, 3 months, France | +20 to 40% | Testing a video as an ad on one market |
| Ads, 6 months, Europe | +40 to 70% | Scaling a winning video |
| Ads, 12 months, worldwide | +70 to 120% | Long-term multi-market use |
| Whitelisting (Spark / Partnership) | + variable | Running from the creator's account |
Indicative, non-contractual ranges: actual amounts depend on the creator and the market. On UGC Pocket, everything is reflected in the budget per creator that you set.
How UGC Pocket frames rights
UGC Pocket structures rights through 3 services, chosen at the brief stage:
UGC only
The creator films and delivers you the video. You run it wherever you want, according to the rights (use, duration, territory) agreed in the brief.
Video + posting
The creator films AND posts on their own networks. This is the basis of whitelisting: the video lives on their account, ready to be boosted as Spark / Partnership Ads.
Provided posting
You supply the video, the creator posts it on their accounts. Ideal for amplifying existing content through a creator's audience.
You specify the usage duration and the channels directly in the brief; nothing is charged without your approval, and the creator is paid once the video is approved (withdrawal by bank transfer within 5 business days). See the pricing details.
Frequently asked questions.
What are the usage rights of a UGC video?
The terms that define where, for how long and on which channels the brand can run the video: organic or paid use (ads), duration (3/6/12 months) and territory (France, Europe, worldwide).
What are whitelisting and Spark Ads?
Running an ad from the creator's account rather than your own. On TikTok: Spark Ads; on Meta: Partnership Ads. The ad keeps the creator's identity and credibility.
How much do usage rights cost?
They are added on top of the video price. On UGC Pocket, you set the budget per creator from €50 to €2,000; ad usage or long duration is reflected in that budget negotiated in the brief. No subscription, payment on approval.
How does UGC Pocket frame rights?
Through 3 services: UGC only, Video + posting, Provided posting. Duration and channels are specified in the brief.