Open Call Program Rules
(1) Introduction. Google LLC (referred to here as “YouTube”) operates the Creator Partnerships Open Call program (“Open Call”) in which advertisers participating in Open Call (each an “Advertiser” and collectively “Advertisers”) offer YouTube creators (each a “Creator” and collectively “Creators”) the opportunity to create advertisements promoting their products or services (“Ad Creative”) in response to Advertisers’ briefs setting out the goals of their campaign (each a “Project”). Ad Creative, if selected, may be published by the Advertiser as part of an advertisement on YouTube (see more about Partnership ads).
(2) Submissions. Advertisers may post an Open Call Project (“Project”) and request submission of Ad Creative for the Advertiser to consider running as an ad on YouTube. Submission of Ad Creative for a Campaign does not guarantee selection or payment. Advertisers select Ad Creative and YouTube does not participate in any way with the selection of the Ad Creative. Advertisers are not obligated to respond or provide Creators feedback on Ad Creative. An Advertiser may reach out to Creator directly to ensure that the Advertiser has all necessary rights to utilize Ad Creative and/or request edits and resubmission of the Ad Creative. In order to do this, YouTube may provide your publicly available email address made available in your channel information. Learn more here about how you can update, change or remove your channel information.
(3) Ad Creative. Ad Creative must comply with all YouTube policies and Google Ads policies (all as may be updated from time to time). Ad Creative must be uploaded as an unlisted video and marked as branded content. If selected by an Advertiser, Ad Creative must remain as a YouTube video without edits for 180 days from the date of first publication from selection by the Advertiser. Ad Creative must remain as an unlisted YouTube video unless the Advertiser directs Creator to make the video public or the Project states that selected videos should be publicly posted, in which case it should remain public for at least 180 days. Ad Creative may be scheduled to be made public after Advertiser approval. Learn more about scheduling here. Additionally, Creator authorizes YouTube to make available Ad Creative that is uploaded and submitted as an unlisted video public after the Advertiser has approved. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Creator acknowledges and agrees that it is solely responsible and liable for any and all Ad Creative, and Creator must at all times comply with the FTC Endorsement Guides, including but not limited to the requirement that endorsements must reflect the endorser’s honest opinion. Ad Creative must also have the “Paid Promotion” box checked.
(4) No Third-Party Materials. Ad Creative must not contain any Third-Party Materials (as defined below) unless expressly requested by the Advertiser in the Project. “Third-Party Materials” includes but is not limited to third-party trademarks, trade names, service marks, logos, symbols, designs, slogans, elements, content, materials, items, likeness and other third-party intellectual property (whether tangible or intangible). Creator must obtain and maintain any necessary rights and licenses for the usage of such Third-Party Materials, and use of such Third-Party Materials will be in accordance with the third party’s licenses and brand guidelines. Ad Creative may not contain any music even if requested by an Advertiser.
(5) Partnership Ads; Content Usage. If selected by Advertiser, Creator’s unlisted video will be linked to the Advertiser's account to enable use as a partnership ad. If Creator’s Ad Creative is selected, Creator grants to Advertiser, for a period of 180 days from the date of selection of such Ad Creative by Advertiser (“Content Usage Period”), a worldwide, royalty-free, sublicensable and transferable right and license to use, distribute, display, publish, and reproduce (a) Ad Creative as an advertising asset on any Google ad platform; (b) to use, distribute, display, publish, and reproduce Creator’s name, nicknames, signatures, photographs, image, voice, statements, social media handles, marks, and endorsements (collectively, “Creator’s Likeness”) on any YouTube ad platform; and (c) to modify Ad Creative by adding product links or other Advertiser information as part of the ad asset. Creator must not post Ad Creative that has been selected by an Advertiser on any third party platform for 180 days from the date of selection.
YouTube Creator Partnerships Open Call Creator Terms
This YouTube Creator Partnerships Open Call Addendum (“Addendum”) is made under and incorporated into the terms under which you participate in the YouTube Partner Program (the “Terms”). Please read this Addendum carefully. Capitalized words used but not defined in this Addendum will have the meaning given to them in the Terms. If you agree to this Addendum you are eligible to participate in the Creator Partnerships Open Call program (“Open Call"), in which advertisers offer creators like you the opportunity to create advertisements promoting their products or services (“Ad Creative”).
You agree:
(1) Applicability. This Addendum applies only to your participation in Open Call. In case of a conflict between this Addendum and the Terms with regard to Open Call, this Addendum will take precedence.
(2) Submissions. Advertisers participating in Open Call (“Advertisers”) will be eligible to post an Open Call project that will outline the Advertiser’s specifications for a video ad campaign and the Ad Creative they are interested in (“Project”). Each Project will request submission of Ad Creative for the Advertiser to consider running as a partnership ad on YouTube. YouTube may make available one or more Projects for you to view in YouTube Studio. Submission of Ad Creative does not guarantee selection or payment. Advertisers select Ad Creative and YouTube has no control over an Advertiser’s decisions or omissions. Advertisers are not obligated to respond or provide feedback to you. In order to be selected, an Advertiser may reach out to you directly to ensure that the Advertiser has all necessary rights to use the Ad Creative and/or request edits and resubmission of the Ad Creative. In order to do this, YouTube may provide your publicly available email address made available in your channel information. Learn more here about how you can update, change or remove your channel information. If your Ad Creative is selected by an Advertiser, YouTube will notify you in YouTube Studio.
(3) Ad Creative. Ad Creative must comply with all YouTube policies and Google Ads policies (all as may be updated from time to time). Ad Creative must be uploaded as an unlisted video on YouTube and must not be publicly posted on any other platform. If selected by an Advertiser, Ad Creative must remain as a YouTube video without edits for 180 days from the date of selection by the Advertiser. Ad Creative must remain as an unlisted YouTube video unless the Advertiser directs You to make the video public or the Project states that selected videos should be publicly posted, but should not be made public until the Advertiser selects the Ad Creative and you are notified in YouTube Studio. If the Advertiser directs You to make the video public or the Project states that selected videos should be publicly posted, then it must remain public for at least 180 days (unless otherwise agreed to between You and Advertiser). If you set up your submission of Ad Creative to be made public after Advertiser approval, then you acknowledge and agree that you are scheduling the Ad Creative to be publicly posted upon Advertiser’s approval. You are responsible for updating the visibility of your video if you and Advertiser agree that it will be set to unlisted after a certain date. Learn more about scheduling here. You must comply at all times with the FTC Endorsement Guides, including but not limited to the requirement that endorsements must reflect the endorser’s honest opinion.
(4) No Third-Party Materials. Ad Creative must not contain any Third-Party Materials, unless expressly requested by the Advertiser in the Project. For this Addendum, ‘Third-Party Materials’ includes but is not limited to third-party trademarks, trade names, service marks, logos, symbols, designs, slogans, elements, content, materials, items, likeness and other third-party intellectual property (whether tangible or intangible). Creator will obtain and maintain any necessary rights and licenses to use such Third-Party Materials, and use of such Third-Party Materials will be in accordance with the third party’s licenses and brand guidelines.
(5) Creative Independence, No Employment. You acknowledge that YouTube will not be involved in any way in your creation of Ad Creative and that you are free to exercise your own talent, skills, judgment and aesthetic sense in creating any Ad Creative. You agree that YouTube will not provide to you any equipment, materials, supplies or other resources, nor cover or reimburse you for any expense that you may incur in creating any Ad Creative. This Addendum does not create an employment or talent agency relationship. You agree that you do or may perform sponsored content services for multiple brands and potentially on other platforms, and there is no expectation of exclusivity for your services. You represent and warrant that you have or will obtain all necessary permits and licenses, including any applicable business license before performing services for an Advertiser. You agree that the relationship between you and YouTube is of independent contractor, and that this Addendum neither creates nor results in, and will not be construed to create or result in, any partnership, joint venture, agency, employer-employee, or fiduciary relationship between you and YouTube.
(6) Program Eligibility. YouTube may remove you from Open Call eligibility if in YouTube’s sole discretion you are not compliant with any policy requirements (including YouTube channel monetization policies, YouTube policies, and Google Ads policies, all as may be updated from time to time), or if YouTube reasonably determines you have violated this Addendum. You must be 18 years or older to participate in Open Call.
(7) Fees, Payment, Taxes. Subject to your compliance with this Addendum, you may be eligible to earn fees if an Advertiser selects you for a Project. When an Open Call Project is presented to you, it will set out the fee (“Fee”) associated with the Project. YouTube will pay you only if your Ad Creative is selected by an Advertiser.
YouTube will pay you the fee for a Project via your AdSense account associated with your YouTube user account, subject to the payment terms outlined in the Terms. YouTube will initiate the Fee payment after Ad Creative has been selected by the Advertiser, and you will be paid within 60 days.
Taxes are not included in the Fee and will be separately itemized on your invoices if applicable. YouTube will pay correctly-invoiced taxes unless YouTube has a valid tax exemption certificate. YouTube will withhold taxes if legally required. You must provide customary tax documentation as reasonably requested by YouTube.
If you breach this Addendum, YouTube may charge back or offset amounts paid or payable to you. YouTube will notify you if any of these circumstances occur, and provide details about how you can appeal, in accordance with the YouTube channel monetization policies.
(8) Termination. Either party may terminate this Addendum for convenience with 30 days written notice to the other (including via electronic means). YouTube may either suspend or terminate your participation in Open Call immediately upon written notice (including via electronic means) if YouTube reasonably determines or suspects that you have violated this Addendum or the Open Call Program Rules. If this Addendum is terminated, the Terms will survive.
Advertiser Terms
Your participation in the Open Call program ("Open Call") is governed by the Google LLC Advertising Program Terms currently in effect between the Customer accessing Open Call (“You”) and Google (the "Ads Terms"). Open Call is designated as a "Beta Feature" under the Ads Terms. You agree that this Open Call program, and all information pertaining to the Open Call program, shall be deemed confidential information of Google. Irrespective of your decision to participate in the Open Call program, you agree that you will maintain the confidentiality of such confidential information and will not use or disclose such confidential information other than in connection with your participation in the Open Call program. For the avoidance of doubt, you agree to not make public statements regarding your participation in, or potential participation in, the Open Call Program. Further, the Open Call program is subject to cancellation at any time at Google's sole discretion. Capitalized terms not explicitly defined herein shall retain the meaning ascribed to them in the Ad Terms.
By participating in Open Call, you further agree to the following:
- You are responsible for formulating the specifics of your campaign, including the creative details, brand identity, objectives, and campaign dates ("Project").
- The Project must comply with the Google Ads policies and all applicable laws. If a Project violates Google Ads policies, relevant laws, or is otherwise deemed unacceptable by Google, Google reserves the right to terminate your access to Open Call and cancel your Project.
- You may only use a video generated by a creator in connection with an Open Call Project (“Ad Creative”) in partnership ads for a duration of 180 days from the date you approve a video, unless otherwise agreed between You and a creator.
- You acknowledge that Google offers no guarantees or warranties regarding any Ad Creative, and Google does not review such content. You are solely responsible for reviewing Ad Creative to confirm it complies with applicable laws and your own brand standards before you approve the Ad Creative.
- You will defend and indemnify Google against all liabilities, damages, losses, costs, fees (including legal fees) and expenses relating to any third-party allegation or legal proceeding to the extent arising out of your Project or any resulting Ad Creative.
- You authorize Google to share your Project with third-party creators to facilitate production of Ad Creative and you agree that each Project you create constitutes your Creative under the Ad Terms. Google may use an algorithm to determine which Creators may be a good match for your Project. These Creators may not be an exact match for the criteria you input when setting up your campaign.
- Creators are instructed to keep Ad Creative as an unlisted video unless You direct them to make the video public.
- You acknowledge and consent to abide by the Open Call Program Rules.