FAQ

What does MEEDIA do?

MEEDIA provides an online marketplace for the trading of content ownership rights. You have rights (intellectual property rights, see below) in the content you create that may be useful or valuable to others. Buyers can purchase the right to reproduce your content for their own purposes at a price set by you. We basically empower you to make money from the content you produce. We want to educate people to realise that their content is valuable and if they don’t exploit it then others may do.

Is MEEDIA a club?

No. MEEDIA is a content driven marketplace that is free to sign up to and open to anyone over the age of 16 to buy and sell their content. Just download the App via meedia.com to get started!

How do I sign-up ?

Just download the App via meedia.com - it’s that easy!

How can I contact MEEDIA?

Do I need to pay to sign-up to MEEDIA?

No, sign-up to MEEDIA is free. Just download the App via meedia.com to get started!

What type of equipment does MEEDIA require me to use?

Any smartphone or camera will do. This is what MEEDIA is all about. Anyone can use MEEDIA. You don’t have to be a professional photographer with a super-expensive camera. However, do consider that the higher resolution the image you take, the more versatile its usage will be to a buyer.

What is User Generated Content (UGC)?

User Generated Content is any form of content created by the users of an Internet platform or service. It can be anything from a blog, a tweet, a discussion forum, chats and posts to digital images, videos, audio files, adverts, reviews, memes and more…

Why is UGC important to me?

“Content is King” is the new mantra of Internet marketers. If you want to sell a product or service through online channels you can no longer simply bombard your target audience with sexy images or glitzy commercials. Users and consumers expect content: reviews, how-to’s, articles, etc. And UGC is, according to much industry analysis, the most trusted. It is the psychology of social proof: people are attracted to a product or service that they know their peers already engage with. A recent study by Reevo found that 70% of consumers rank peer reviews above professionally written content and 86% of businesses now use content marketing. It is cost effective because much UGC is free to exploit. But we at MEEDIA want to change that for the benefit of you who create it. UGC also represents the democratization of content: no longer is the stuff that appears in online media restricted to that which the editors of newspapers, publishers and news shows deem publication-worthy. Everyone has a voice. And anyone with access to an online platform can have it heard. Your UGC therefore has a potential commercial value and it is our aim to help you cash in on it.

What is Intellectual Property (IP) and how does it relate to UGC?

Intellectual Property (IP) is “creations of the mind, such as inventions; literary and artistic works; design; and symbols, names and images used in commerce”. IP law protects these creations so that people who invest time and resources in developing creative works can be allowed to profit from them. So, your UGC will involve the creation of certain IP rights in your favour which have a value and which are protected by law.

What IP is there in my content?

The four most common IP rights are:

(1) patents (protect technical innovations in how things work, rather than what things look like or the information they contain);
2) trade marks (signs used to distinguish the products or services of one person from those of another);
3) design rights (protect the shape, configuration or appearance of a product (or part of a product); and
4) copyright (the right to reproduce a work). IP rights are property rights and so can be licensed, assigned, mortgaged and treated in a similar way to physical property. What does that mean? Well, say for example, you take a photograph of a sunflower: a copyright will arise on creation of the photograph, in your favour as the author of the picture. This right can then be licensed or assigned in exchange for remuneration: you can sell the right for others to use and reproduce your image.

Who can exploit the content I create?

Unbeknown to many of us, when you post content on many of the main social media sites, buried in their terms and conditions you are granting the site’s operator some form of licence allowing them to reproduce your content without crediting or remunerating you in any way for it. This content can then be reproduced and, in some cases, even sold on to third parties who can use it for their own commercial ends. We at MEEDIA think this is wrong. If a company is using your content to promote their business in any way, we think you should be paid for it. UGC is a valuable commodity and we want to make social media users aware of this.

Will my private content be licensed? Can I separate it from the stuff I want to sell?

You will always have the opportunity to choose what will and won’t be available from your content to be licensed. Only the content you approve will be available to licence.

How do I know what my content might be worth?

Just download the MEEDIA App via meedia.com and our clever software will calculate an estimated value of your images and videos loaded to your MEEDIA account. You will then have the option to adjust those prices before you publish into the marketplace to reflect the money you want to receive – so you have ultimate control over the prices you charge! And it won’t cost you anything! What are you waiting for?

For further information please see our valuation policy within our Terms of Service.

How can I find images and videos on MEEDIA?

Just enter keywords or hashtags for content that you are looking for e.g. ‘sunflowers’ and like any search engine, MEEDIA will return the content in our database that matches the criteria you entered. Simple!

How does MEEDIA make its money?

We all have to eat. There’s no such thing as a free lunch. The clichés abound. But you get the picture, right? So that we can provide you with this fantastic marketplace and promote our cause of getting brands to pay for your content, we need to take a small fee to pay the bills and keep the wolves from the door. So, when you select a price to charge for your item, we add our fee on top (which equates to 30% of the total licence fee) and that is the overall price the buyer pays. So, don’t worry. You still get exactly the amount you had anticipated when you sell. The buyer covers our fee. And everyone’s a winner! For further information take a look at our Terms of Service for Digital Content Creators

Is MEEDIA secure?

Security is a top priority for us and we take it extremely seriously. We do everything in our power to keep everyone out who is not a MEEDIA friend or who does not fully understand our Terms of Service. Peace!

How many images and videos can I upload?

There is no limit. You can load as much content as you like. BUT if you want your best content to sell then edit and consider what you want to sell before you load. By choosing the best shots you will give yourself the very best chance of licensing content and therefore making money. Loading anything and everything won’t give you the best chance to shine. Think about your top content and what buyers will want to see from you. Remember: buyers look for certain styles of content but also need to find content quickly. Uploading your best and most stand out shots and tagging them with accurate keywords will help you in the long run.

How do I buy content from MEEDIA?

We make this as easy as possible. A credit or debit card is all that’s required once you’re signed up to use the service. That’s it

What type of licence can I buy and sell through MEEDIA

There is currently 1 type of licence that you can buy and sell;

Editorial non-commercial. The Editorial licence means that content (images and videos) can be licensed for newsworthy or topical purposes only. No commercial rights are permitted but editorial content can be used in relation to articles (e.g. text books, magazines and newspapers), reviews, blogs, broadcasts and newsworthy events, in addition to sharing on social media through channels authorised by the Buyer. Exclusions are outright promotion, advertising, merchandising and endorsement as well as advertorials. All content must be credited. Credit will be: MEEDIA | [insert Digital Content Creator name].

Content loaded to MEEDIA must not be available to licence anywhere else. For more details about the licence agreement please see our Terms of Service and the licence agreement itself. Watch this space because we will be introducing further licences!

When I licence content will I receive a copy of the licence?

Yes. You will receive a copy of every licence you buy at the point of sale. The licence will also detail the type of licence, the use, the image and whom you purchased the licence from.

For more details about the licence agreement please see our Terms of Service

How much does it cost to buy content from MEEDIA?

Prices are set by the seller (the Digital Content Creator) so the cost will vary from seller to seller.

Why should I buy through MEEDIA?

Because MEEDIA puts you in direct contact with the owner of the content. You will licence content directly from the seller (the Digital Content Creator), the owner of the copyright, through MEEDIA. The Digital Content Creator has total control over the money they would like to receive for their content: the price they set is the price they get when it sells. The world is changing and power is moving into the hands of everyone - MEEDIA is no exception! There are many benefits to buying through MEEDIA. Buying direct is one but here are a few more:

It’s ethical - There is no middleman. You will licence directly from source. We are totally committed to providing the opportunity for content creators to own the whole process from creating content through to licensing.

Unique content - You will have access to unique worldwide content which is loaded 24/7.

Copyright - All content is licensed via the MEEDIA marketplace directly from the Digital Content Creator (the copyright owner).

Free sign-up - There is no sign up cost to the buyer or the Digital Content Creator (the seller). Just download the App via meedia.com to get started!

Image price - The price is set by the Digital Content Creator so they receive the value they believe their content is worth. MEEDIA adds a fee to the Digital Content Creator’s price so the Creator will not lose out through commission splits. The MEEDIA commission plus the price the Digital Content Creator sets is the licence fee that you pay. The MEEDIA commission equates to 30% of the total licence fee.

Direct Marketplace - MEEDIA’s marketplace is open to anyone to buy or sell content but crucially it puts you directly in touch with the content creator. It’s a free service to all but licences must be paid for!

Why should I sell through MEEDIA?

Take power from what you own and make money! You can sell your physical property online via sites like Ebay and Shpock. Well now you can sell your intellectual property too. You set the licence fee and have total control over the price. There is no commission split as is often the case with traditional content licensing models. MEEDIA just adds its 30% commission to every licence, so you will receive the price you set, without any deductions. There are many benefits to selling through MEEDIA. Price is one but here are a few more:

It’s ethical - There is no middleman. You will receive the price you set when your item is licensed by a buyer. We are totally committed to providing the opportunity for content creators to own the whole process from creating content through to licensing.

Copyright - MEEDIA will manage your copyright for you from the point of loading content through to licensing. Having your content on MEEDIA will provide a robust solution for buyers to know that they are licensing content directly from you the Digital Content Creator, who is the point of origin and authority.

Community - Communicate and network with others within the marketplace.

Free sign-up - There is no cost for the buyer or the Digital Content Creator (the seller) to sign-up to the service. Just download the App via meedia.com to get started!

Content editing - Editorial control is with you, the Digital Content Creator. You choose the content you sell so you will be able to see which images sell best and which ones do not. You have total control over your content: which images can be licensed and for how much.

Image price - The price is set by you, the Digital Content Creator, so you will receive the price you set. MEEDIA adds a 30% fee to your price so you will not lose out through commission splits. The MEEDIA fee plus the price you set is the licence fee that will be paid by the buyer.

Marketplace - MEEDIA’s marketplace is open to anyone to buy or sell content but crucially it puts you directly in touch with the content buyer. It’s a free service to all but licences must be paid for!

When will MEEDIA Creators be paid?

Creators will be paid automatically once they have reached their payment threshold of £25. See our Terms of Service for Digital Content Creators for full details

Can I buy content on MEEDIA through other outlets?

Not at this time but watch this space as MEEDIA grows.

What type of content am I not allowed to sell through MEEDIA?

We have a few stipulations as to the sort of content that cannot be sold. Mostly this is common sense and our restrictions can be viewed in full in our Terms of Service.

To give you an idea of the things that we will not permit being sold via our marketplace, you may not sell content that is defamatory, unlawful, pornographic, blasphemous, racist, sexist, abusive, offensive or that you do not have permission to licence (i.e. content that you did not create yourself). This list is by no means exhaustive. Only load content that you have created, in which you own the intellectual property and which is not likely to cause offense to others.

Are the prices set by MEEDIA?

No. The Digital Content Creator (the seller) sets the prices but MEEDIA adds commission on top so the seller receives the value they assign to their content. We do supply a default content price should the seller not wish to set his or her own.

Can I set my own prices in MEEDIA?

Yes, you can and we also offer a default setting should you prefer.

What is the best way for my content to be found in MEEDIA?

The best way is to correctly and accurately add metadata to all your content e.g. tags, keywords and hashtags.

Who are the buyers?

Buyers will typically be professional purchasers of content, such as advertising and design agencies, publishers, corporations and marketing and PR agencies. But this is by no means an exhaustive list. The great thing is that anyone can purchase from MEEDIA: the marketplace is open to everyone. The world is your oyster!

Is there a limit to the amount of money I can make through MEEDIA?

No, not at all. The more quality images you load, the more exposure you will receive giving you the potential to make more money. The sky’s the limit!

How will my content be found by a customer?

All content will be required to have attributed metadata such as keywords or tags and hashtags. If no metadata is assigned to your content it will not be found. This detail is absolutely critical to give your content the very best exposure. So get hashtagging!

How will my personal information be used?

We take your privacy very seriously indeed. All personal information that we may collect (including, but not limited to, your name and address) will be collected, used and held in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998 and your rights under that Act. Further details can be found within our Terms of Service