Terms of Service

Who we are

Creative Imperium Agency (“the Imperium”, “we”, “us”) is a private commissioning house based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. We place vetted, ranked creators with brands and agencies that issue real briefs.

These Terms cover your use of our website, the Roster, and every commission we arrange.

Accepting these Terms

You accept these Terms by checking the acceptance box, or by using the Imperium after these Terms have been shown to you. You agree to do this electronically.

Your acceptance is recorded with the date and the version you accepted. It has the same effect as a handwritten signature. You may ask us for a copy at any time. If you do not agree, do not use the Imperium.

One agreement. Two paths. Accepting these Terms and the Privacy Policy is your contract with the Imperium.

Who may use the Imperium

• You must be at least 18 years old.
• If you act for a business, you must have the authority to accept these Terms for it.
• Everything you tell us must be true and complete.

Access is by invitation. It is applied for, earned, or referred. We may accept, decline, pause, or end access at our discretion.

Private by design

Exclusivity is the product. Confidential information includes brand names, project details, who referred a commission, rates, and every private opportunity you receive.

Use it only for the commission it was shared for. Do not share it, post it, or forward it. This duty continues after your access ends.

How you behave

Be honest, respectful, and professional. Do not harass or discriminate against anyone, commit fraud, or misuse the platform. Do not copy or scrape our site, and do not share your personal access links with anyone.

What belongs to whom

The Imperium’s name, logo, brand, and website belong to us. Your own work and content stay yours, subject to the rights granted for commissions in these Terms.

You allow us to show your profile and portfolio to brands considering you, and to feature the Roster, with credit to you.

How we contact you

We will email and text you about your application, invitations, commissions, and payments. Reply STOP to a text to opt out. Some messages are required to run your commission and will still be sent by email.

Our Privacy Policy explains how we collect and protect your information.

The Roster and ranks

Creators on the Roster hold a rank: Novitiate, Artisan, Imperial, or Consul. Ranks are assigned by the Imperium and may be raised, held, or lowered. A rank does not guarantee work.

You are cleared for commissions when your profile is complete and you have accepted these Terms.

Your profile must be true

Your gear, rates, availability, service area, insurance, and references must be accurate. Keep them up to date. False information can lead to removal.

You allow us to contact the references you list.

You are independent

You are not our employee, partner, or agent. You run your own business, supply your own equipment and insurance, and handle your own taxes. We will issue tax forms where the law requires.

Invitations and commissions

Imperials do not pitch. They are matched. Invitations are private and are offered to members we believe fit the work. Each has a cutoff. Being invited is not being selected, and we do not guarantee any work.

Accepting a commission is a commitment, confirmed through the acceptance link or by email. Do not accept work you cannot deliver.

Delivering the work

• Deliver to the standard your rank represents, on brief and on deadline.
• Tell us about any delay as soon as you know.
• Provide the revisions the brief includes.
• Keep your working files until the brand accepts the final delivery.

Fees and payment

The Imperium deducts 7% from a creator’s payment on each commission.

The brand pays a deposit before work begins, normally 50% unless the brief says otherwise. Once the brand’s final payment clears, we pay you within 7 days, minus our 7%, using the payout method on your profile.

We pay you only for money we have received from the brand. Taxes on your earnings are yours. If a brand disputes part of a payment, we may hold the disputed part only, and we will work to resolve it quickly.

Working only through the Imperium

For 12 months after we introduce you to a brand, do not take work from that brand outside the Imperium. The same applies to brands that reach us through a partner agency.

This does not apply to brands you already worked with before we introduced you.

Rights in the work

Once the brand has paid in full, the brand receives the rights stated in the commission brief, either ownership of the final deliverables or a license for the uses stated. Until then, the rights stay with you.

You may show the work in your portfolio unless the brief says it is confidential. You promise the work is original and that you have the right to use every element in it, including music, locations, and people.

Your duties on a project

• Hold the insurance you told us you have.
• Obtain releases for people and properties you film or photograph.
• Hold the permits and licenses your equipment requires, including drone licenses.
• Manage your own travel and safety.
• Act professionally on every client site.

Access

Brands and agencies are accepted by application, by earning it, or by referral. We do not guarantee acceptance, and we may decline or end access.

Briefs and matching

You issue a brief covering the creative type, scope, budget, timeline, and any restrictions. The more specific the brief, the better the match. It must be accurate and complete.

The Imperium selects the creator who best fits the work. You do not choose a creator directly unless we agree. We do not guarantee availability or outcome, and we may replace a creator if we must.

Fees and payment

The Imperium fee is 10%. It is shown in your quote before you confirm.

You pay a deposit to confirm the commission, normally 50%. The balance is due when the final work is delivered. We may pause delivery or the release of final files until payment is received.

Taxes are extra where they apply.

Scope, revisions, and approval

The brief is law. Scope, deliverables, and timeline are confirmed before production begins. Confirmed scope is not revisited. Changes after that point become a new commission or an added fee.

The brief states how many rounds of revisions are included. Review the final delivery within 5 business days. If you do not respond in that time, the work is treated as accepted.

Cancellation

• Cancel before we match a creator: your deposit is refunded in full.
• Cancel after a creator is confirmed and before work begins: the deposit is not refunded, because the creator has reserved the dates.
• Cancel after work has started: you pay for the work done up to that point, up to the total price.
• You may reschedule with at least 72 hours’ notice.

Working only through the Imperium

For 12 months after we introduce a creator, do not hire that creator directly for similar work outside the Imperium. The same applies to creators introduced through a partner agency.

Rights in the work

Once you have paid in full, you receive the rights stated in the commission brief. The creator may show the work in their portfolio unless you ask for confidentiality in the brief.

You are responsible for the rights to anything you provide, including logos, music, scripts, and images.

Your duties on a project

• Give the creator access to the location and the people involved.
• Obtain permits and releases for properties and people you control.
• Give timely feedback.
• Provide a safe place to work.

What we do not promise

The Imperium arranges commissions. We do not guarantee any result, income, or availability. The Imperium and its platform are provided as they are.

Limits of liability

To the extent the law allows, we are not liable for indirect or consequential losses. Our total liability to you for any commission is limited to the fees we received from you for that commission in the previous 12 months. Nothing in these Terms limits liability that the law does not allow us to limit.

If you cause us a loss

You will cover the losses we suffer because you broke these Terms, gave us false information, or infringed someone else’s rights.

Ending access

You may stop using the Imperium at any time. We may end your access if you break these Terms, give false information, or behave improperly.

Commissions in progress will be finished or settled fairly. The duties on confidentiality, payment, rights, working only through the Imperium, and liability continue after access ends.

Changes to these Terms

We may update these Terms. When we do, we will show you the new version and ask you to accept it to continue. The version you accepted is always recorded.

Governing law and disputes

Michigan law governs these Terms. If a dispute arises, send us written notice and give us 30 days to resolve it. If it is still unresolved, it will be decided in the state or federal courts located in Michigan.

Contact

Reply to any email from the Imperium, or write to us through www.creativeimperiumagency.com.