Should brands be allowed to request unedited/raw UGC content?

Image created using ImageFX by Google

I saw something from my friend Laurie from Laurie’s faves on Instagram. She shared that a platform she’s using had brands request raw/unedited User Generated Content (UGC). I won’t mention the platforms because I don’t use them. I’ve mentioned Laurie in a past post you can read that here.

But her post got me thinking about this.

It also made me ask a few questions as well.

How will the content be used?

Once your unedited or raw content is handed over to a brand they are free to use it as they see fit. They can edit your content for a brand ad, social media ad, or even a print ad. They could also alter it to skew in their favor such as only sharing the results of your product impression or usage.

The brand can do whatever they want with your content. Worst of all you may not be credited or paid for the post either.

How long will the content be used for?

Once they create the post or image or whatever they use your UGC for it’s the brand’s property. So they can use it once or for weeks, months, or even years.

Again you wouldn’t be paid for it yet the brand can use your face, skin, etc for their monetary gain.

Is it worth it to you?

Is giving your work away for free worth it to you? For content creators, at times it’s great to share content in any form. I get that but at times you have to think of whether it will benefit me (either monetarily or exposure). If you give your content away for free that means the brand will have control over it once you hand it over.

Again this means if the brand chops up your video and uses it in their favor. This could be an exciting reaction but there is no further context. Or they could use your images of your final results of skincare usage or something similar.

Should brands should be allowed to request UGC raw/unedited content in the first place?

I understand brands are generating tons of revenue thanks to UGC because people want to see real users share their thoughts and results. I understand that but I also believe that brands use that UGC to their advantage in many ways.

Yet why would they need raw/ unedited content? I don’t think that’s something they should be able to request. It’s odd because again they can do what they please with it in the end. Personally, I don’t like that. If I take my time to create a video, image, etc I should be able to retain my original content.

There have been times I’ve filmed 3 or 4 videos to end up with one final one. The same goes for pictures. If I used a platform that requested raw UGC would I be required to send them all the takes or blurry images too?

Will this be the new trend?

Will this be the new trend in UGC platforms or brand requests for collaborations? I don’t know but I hope not. I like having some claim to my images and video as well as my likeness.

I don’t think I’d like to share all of my content with brands just for them to do as they please with it.

Share your thoughts on the topic in the comments below.