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Legal · 004

Creator Agreement

Last updated: [DATE]

This Creator Agreement (the "Agreement") is between you and [LEGAL ENTITY NAME] ("Sourced", "we"). It applies if you choose to receive ad revenue distributions or accept promotion payments through Sourced. It is in addition to the Terms of Service, which continue to apply.

Draft for legal review. Reviewed and finalized by a licensed attorney before publication. Tax and KYC implications must be specifically reviewed.

1. Purpose

By signing up to receive payouts, you confirm that you have read this Agreement and agree to its terms. This Agreement is electronically accepted when you initiate Stripe Connect onboarding.

2. Eligibility

To be paid out through Sourced, you must:

  • Have an active Sourced account in good standing.
  • Have published at least one approved content-tier post.
  • Complete Stripe Connect onboarding, including identity verification (KYC) and applicable tax forms.
  • Be at least 18 years old. (Under 18: not eligible for payouts.)
  • Be located in a jurisdiction Sourced supports for payouts. As of launch: United States only. Additional jurisdictions may be added.
  • Not be on a US sanctions list or otherwise prohibited from receiving funds under US law.

3. How earnings are calculated

3.1 The pool

Sourced collects revenue from ads displayed on the discover feed and from creator-paid promotions. We deduct documented operating costs, then distribute:

  • 80% to authors of content-tier posts that received ad impressions during the day.
  • 20% to Sourced.

The math is computed daily by our payout function. Inputs (revenue, costs, distributable pool) are published on the Transparency page. You may audit them.

3.2 Your share

Your share of the daily author pool is proportional to the number of ad impressions delivered alongside your approved, public content-tier posts that day.

Specifically:

  • Only content-tier posts contribute. Status and personal posts do not earn.
  • Only approved posts contribute. Pending or flagged posts do not earn.
  • Only public posts contribute (which is the default and required setting for content-tier posts).
  • Only organic and on-platform ad impressions count. Self-views are excluded. Click-fraud and impression-farming patterns are excluded and may result in forfeiture (Section 7).

3.3 Currency and minimums

Earnings are calculated in US dollars. The minimum withdrawal threshold is [USD AMOUNT, e.g. $20.00]. Below the threshold, your balance accrues until the threshold is reached.

3.4 No guarantees

We do not guarantee any specific level of earnings. Revenue depends on platform-wide ad and promotion volume, your post performance, and operating costs. Many users will earn small amounts. Setting accurate expectations is part of the platform's commitment to honesty; Sourced will display realistic earnings estimates in onboarding.

4. Payouts

4.1 Stripe Connect

Payouts are processed by Stripe Connect. Stripe is responsible for:

  • Identity verification (KYC).
  • Bank account verification.
  • 1099-NEC form generation and filing for US payees earning $600 or more in a calendar year.
  • Funds delivery.

You agree to Stripe's terms of service when you complete their onboarding.

4.2 Hold period

Newly accrued earnings are held for [HOLD PERIOD, e.g. 14 days] before becoming available to withdraw. This hold is for fraud review and is standard.

4.3 Withdrawal

When your available balance meets the minimum threshold, you may request a withdrawal from your wallet. Stripe processes the transfer to your bank account, typically within 2–7 business days.

4.4 Fees

Sourced does not charge a fee on top of the 80/20 split. Stripe's processing fees are deducted from the platform pool, not from your share. (The "20% to Sourced" implicitly includes the cost of payment processing — this is intentional, so creators see a clean 80% of net distributable.)

4.5 Currency conversion

If your bank account is in a currency other than USD, Stripe handles conversion. Conversion fees set by Stripe apply.

5. Taxes

You are responsible for all taxes on your earnings.

For US payees:

  • Sourced (via Stripe) will issue Form 1099-NEC if you earn $600 or more in a calendar year.
  • Whether you receive a 1099 or not, you are responsible for reporting your earnings.

For non-US payees:

  • Sourced supports payouts only to jurisdictions explicitly listed in Section 2. Tax compliance is your responsibility.

We do not provide tax advice. Consult a tax professional.

6. Promotions

You may pay to promote your own approved content-tier posts. By creating a promotion, you agree:

  • Promotions apply only to your own posts.
  • Promotions do not bypass moderation. Posts that fail moderation are not eligible to be promoted; if a promoted post is later removed, the unused portion of the promotion is forfeit (no refund for unused impressions on removed content).
  • Promotions are clearly labeled "Sponsored" wherever they appear.
  • Promoted posts are subject to additional accuracy review. Source-support standards apply more strictly to promoted content because the boost amplifies reach.
  • Promotion fees are non-refundable except where law requires.
  • Promotion fees flow into the same revenue pool that funds creator earnings — meaning your promotion spend partially funds payouts to other creators.

7. Forfeiture and clawback

We reserve the right to withhold or forfeit payouts if we determine in good faith, after reasonable investigation, that:

  • Earnings were generated through fraud, including click farms, bot impressions, account farming, or coordinated impression schemes.
  • Earnings were generated by content that violates the Community Guidelines, particularly content that was approved and later found to violate guidelines.
  • The account engaged in pattern violations of these terms or the Terms of Service.
  • A chargeback, payment dispute, or legal claim affects the related transaction.

If we forfeit earnings, we will:

  • Notify you of the action and the reason, except where notification would compromise an investigation.
  • Allow you to appeal through the in-app appeal process.
  • Make a final determination after reviewing your appeal.

Forfeited funds remain in the platform pool and benefit other creators in subsequent distribution periods.

If we have already paid out funds we later determine were earned in violation of this Agreement, we may demand return of those funds. We will pursue this only in cases of clear, material violation, not for ordinary disputes.

8. No employment relationship

You are an independent creator, not an employee, contractor, agent, partner, or joint venturer of Sourced. You retain full control over what you post, when you post, and how you engage on the platform, within the limits of the Community Guidelines.

We do not direct your creative work, set hours, or assign tasks. We provide a platform; you choose to use it and choose what to publish on it.

9. Termination of payout eligibility

You may stop receiving payouts at any time by closing your Stripe Connect account or disabling payouts in your wallet settings. Accrued balances will be paid out on the next regular schedule, subject to the minimum threshold.

We may terminate your payout eligibility, separate from your Sourced account itself, for:

  • Material violation of this Agreement.
  • Fraud determinations under Section 7.
  • Stripe terminating your Connect account.
  • Legal compliance requirements.

Termination of payout eligibility does not, by itself, terminate your Sourced account.

10. Changes to this Agreement

We may update this Agreement. Material changes will be communicated by email and via an in-app notice at least [DAYS] days before they take effect. Continued use of the payout system after the effective date constitutes acceptance.

For changes affecting how the 80/20 split works (the percentages themselves, the cost categories), we will provide [LONGER NOTICE PERIOD, e.g. 60 days] of advance notice.

11. Disputes

This Agreement is governed by the same dispute resolution and governing-law provisions as the Terms of Service, Sections 15.

Specific to payouts: if you dispute a forfeiture or a payout calculation, the appeal process described in Section 7 is the first step. If unresolved, the dispute follows the Terms of Service procedures.

12. Acknowledgements

By accepting this Agreement, you acknowledge:

  • Sourced is a platform, not your employer.
  • Earnings are not guaranteed and depend on platform performance and your audience.
  • The 80/20 split is calculated, transparent, and auditable on the Transparency page.
  • You are responsible for your own taxes and for the accuracy of the content you publish.
  • Promoted content is subject to stricter accuracy review than organic content.
  • This Agreement and the Terms of Service together define our relationship.

13. Contact

  • Payout questions: [PAYOUT EMAIL]
  • Disputes: [LEGAL EMAIL]
  • Stripe-specific issues: also accessible from your Stripe Connect dashboard.

Reviewed and finalized by a licensed attorney before publication. Tax and KYC implications must be specifically validated.