When you hire a creator through a UGC brief on Backstage, you have two payment options: Secure On-Platform Payment through Backstage, or Mark as Paid for payments completed outside the platform. The option you choose affects the licensing protections that apply to the content you receive.
What is Covered with On-Platform Payments?
When you pay a creator through Backstage, your transaction is covered by the UGC License and Agreement. This means:
You receive a clear, platform-backed content license for the agreed-upon deliverables.
Both you and the creator have a documented record of the transaction terms, deliverables, and payment.
Disputes related to deliverables, revisions, or payment are supported through Backstage's resolution process.
What happens if I Pay Off-Platform?
If you and the creator complete payment outside of Backstage and you select Mark as Paid, the project will still be tracked in your dashboard — but:
The UGC License and Agreement does not apply to off-platform transactions.
Backstage cannot verify the terms of your payment or mediate disputes related to compensation.
You are responsible for establishing your own content licensing terms directly with the creator.
The creator will be asked to confirm receipt of your off-platform payment before the project is marked as completed.
Can I Switch to On-Platform Payment after Selecting Mark as Paid?
If you haven't confirmed the off-platform payment yet, you can close the modal and select Send Backstage Payment instead. Once both parties confirm an off-platform payment, the project is marked as completed and cannot be changed.
Do I Still Own the Content if I Pay Off-Platform?
Content ownership and usage rights depend on whatever terms you and the creator agree to independently. Without the UGC License and Agreement in place, Backstage has no role in defining or enforcing those rights. We strongly recommend establishing written terms with your creator before any off-platform payment is made.
Where Can I Review the Full UGC License and Agreement?
You can review the complete UGC License and Agreement here.