LICENSING AGREEMENT

 

The Riveter Studio

Story Submission & License Agreement

Version 1.0 — Effective [Month Day, Year]

This Agreement explains the terms that apply when you submit a story to The Riveter Studio (“we,” “us,” or “Riveter”) through our website or any submission form we provide.

By checking the required boxes and clicking “Submit Story,” you (“Author”) agree to be bound by this Agreement for the story (or stories) you submit.

If you do not agree to these terms, please do not submit your work.

  1. Who Can Submit

1.1 You must be at least 18 years old (or the age of majority in your jurisdiction) to submit a story.

1.2 You are submitting in your individual capacity, not on behalf of an employer or third party, unless you have full authority to do so.

  1. Definitions
  • Author: The person submitting the story and granting the rights described here.
  • Story: The written work you submit to Riveter in any format, including but not limited to prose, essays, memoir, fiction, or other narrative text.
  • Film: Any audio-visual work created by Riveter that is based on or inspired by your Story, including rough cuts, final edits, excerpts, trailers, and promotional clips.
  • Platforms: Any channels where Riveter may publish or promote the Film, including but not limited to websites, social media, streaming platforms, festivals, and broadcasts.
  1. What Stays Yours (Ownership)

3.1 You keep ownership of your Story. Submitting your work does not transfer your copyright to Riveter.

3.2 You may continue to use, publish, and adapt your Story elsewhere, including in books, newsletters, blogs, or other projects, subject to any agreements you may have with third parties.

  1. What You’re Allowing Us To Do (License)

4.1 By submitting your Story and agreeing to this Agreement, you grant Riveter a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to:

  • Turn your Story into a cinematic short (the Film);
  • Edit, adapt, and arrange your Story as needed for length, clarity, and format so it works on screen; and
  • Use the Story and the Film for the purposes in Section 5 (below).

4.2 This license is non-exclusive, which means you are free to use your Story in other ways at the same time, as long as those uses do not conflict with the rights you have granted here.

4.3 If your Story is not selected for production, Riveter has no ongoing rights to your work beyond what is reasonably necessary to evaluate your submission.

  1. How We May Use Your Story and the Film

If your Story is selected and Riveter produces a Film based on it, you agree that Riveter may:

5.1 Produce and distribute the Film, in whole or in part, on our Platforms and through third-party services (such as YouTube, Vimeo, social media, or streaming platforms).

5.2 Promote the Story and the Film in connection with Riveter’s work, including:

  • Trailers, teasers, and highlight reels;
  • Behind-the-scenes or “making of” content;
  • Sizzle reels and pitch materials for festivals, investors, or partners.

5.3 Edit and adapt the Story for performance and production, including:

  • Selecting specific portions of the Story for voiceover or on-screen text;
  • Making reasonable edits for length, clarity, pacing, and format;
  • Adding visual and audio elements that interpret or expand on the Story while preserving its core meaning.

Riveter will not intentionally change the core meaning or message of your Story.

  1. Credits and Attribution

6.1 If Riveter produces a Film based on your Story, we will credit you as the Author using your preferred name or pen name, as provided in your submission.

6.2 Where reasonably practical, we may also include a short byline or link (e.g., to your website or social handle) if you provide this information and it fits the format.

6.3 Final credit placement and formatting may vary by platform, medium, or technical constraints.

  1. No Guarantee of Selection or Use

7.1 Riveter is not obligated to review, select, or produce any particular Story, even if it meets the submission guidelines.

7.2 Riveter may, at its sole discretion, decide:

  • Not to produce a Film from your Story;
  • To stop production of a Film in progress; or
  • To remove or stop distributing a Film at any time.

7.3 You will not be entitled to payment or damages solely because Riveter did or did not select, produce, or continue to use your Story or the Film.

  1. Payment and Compensation

8.1 In our initial pilot and early studio phases, Riveter may not provide monetary payment for Story submissions or produced Films. Instead, selected Authors receive:

  • A professionally produced Film based on their Story;
  • Attribution/credit as described in Section 6; and
  • The ability to share or embed the Film with their own audience, subject to platform rules.

8.2 If Riveter introduces payment, revenue-sharing, or other compensation models for future projects, those terms will be described in an updated agreement or a separate written agreement specific to that project.

  1. Your Promises (Representations & Warranties)

By submitting a Story, you confirm that:

9.1 You are the original creator of the Story, or you otherwise hold all rights necessary to grant the license in this Agreement.

9.2 The Story is not generated primarily by AI tools, and any AI-assisted elements are your own original and substantial creative work.

9.3 The Story does not infringe the intellectual property, privacy, or other rights of any third party.

9.4 The Story is not defamatory, hateful, or unlawfully harmful toward any person or group.

9.5 If the Story includes details that could reasonably identify a real person (other than you), you have either:

  • Changed those details sufficiently to protect their privacy, or
  • Obtained any permissions or consents that may be required under applicable law.

9.6 All information you provide to Riveter in connection with your submission is accurate to the best of your knowledge.

  1. Indemnification

To the extent permitted by law, you agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Riveter, its owners, employees, contractors, and partners from and against any claims, losses, damages, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or related to:

  • A breach of your promises in Section 9; or
  • Any claim that your Story infringes or misuses a third party’s rights.

This clause does not apply to claims resulting solely from Riveter’s own modifications or use of the Story beyond what is allowed in this Agreement.

  1. Term, Changes, and Termination

11.1 This Agreement takes effect when you submit your Story and remains in effect for as long as Riveter uses the Story or any Film based on the Story, unless ended earlier as described below.

11.2 You may contact Riveter to request that we stop using your Story for future new productions. However, this will not require Riveter to remove or delete existing Films or uses that are already in circulation, unless required by law or separately agreed in writing.

11.3 Riveter may stop using your Story or the Film at any time for any reason.

11.4 If Riveter updates this Agreement in the future, the updated version will apply only to submissions made after the new effective date, unless otherwise agreed in writing. Your submission remains governed by the version in place at the time you clicked “Submit Story.”

  1. General

12.1 This Agreement is the entire agreement between you and Riveter regarding your Story submission, unless we enter into a separate written agreement with you for a particular project.

12.2 If any part of this Agreement is found invalid or unenforceable, the rest will continue in full force and effect.

12.3 This Agreement will be governed by the laws of the state or jurisdiction where Riveter is primarily based, without regard to conflict of law principles.

Acceptance

By checking the required boxes and clicking “Submit Story” on The Riveter Studio website, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by this Story Submission & License Agreement.