TL;DR
- Watch for perpetual or worldwide usage rights — they’re expensive.
- Broad exclusivity without extra pay is a deal-killer (or needs a clear fee + timeline).
- Any ad usage (whitelisting / Spark / paid social) should be a separate line item with dates + platforms.
Red flags to look for
- Perpetual / unlimited usage without licensing fees.
- Exclusivity that blocks entire categories for months.
- Raw footage required “for free”.
- Unclear deliverables (edits, revisions, timelines).
When in doubt: itemize. Base rate + add-ons.