In June 2026, Politico reported that Polymarket’s chief marketing officer had routed over $2.5 million through a personal PayPal account to more than 800 accounts on X. The posts looked like ordinary user opinions. No “#ad.” No “Sponsored.” Just what appeared to be real people talking up a prediction market. That network is now under…
A single viral controversy can end a brand partnership in 24 hours. That’s why nearly every professional influencer contract signed today contains a morality clause — and why the FTC’s updated endorsement guidelines make those clauses more legally consequential than ever. This guide breaks down exactly what FTC morality clauses are, what they must include…
In 26 words, a 1996 federal law changed the internet permanently — and most people who argue about it have never read it. Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act says platforms are not legally responsible for content their users post. That single idea is why YouTube exists at its current scale, why Facebook reached…
⚠️ Legal Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws change frequently. Always consult a licensed attorney for guidance specific to your situation. Verify all statutes at your state legislature’s official website before taking legal action. Sharing intimate images without consent is a crime across nearly all of…
A single tweet ended a €1.5 billion business relationship in 2022. The legal mechanism that made it possible? A morality clause buried inside an endorsement contract. Most brands discover they need one only after the crisis has already started. By then, you’re negotiating under pressure, in public, with no pre-agreed terms — and it costs…
Signing a brand deal without reading the fine print has ended influencer careers — and it happens far more than the industry admits. Every year, creators lose content ownership, find themselves trapped in months-long exclusivity agreements that kill their income, or discover a brand has used their image in campaigns they never approved. The influencer…
California’s AB 2273 — the Age-Appropriate Design Code Act — is one of the most sweeping children’s online privacy laws ever passed in the United States. Signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in September 2022, it doesn’t just update a checkbox in a terms-of-service agreement. It demands that technology companies redesign platforms from the ground up…
If you run a newsletter, blog, YouTube channel, or any kind of online audience, GDPR probably applies to your operation — whether you know it or not, and whether you’re based in Europe or not. Most creators discover this law the hard way: a subscriber request they don’t know how to handle, a cookie complaint,…
If you earned money from brand deals, AdSense, affiliate links, or Patreon in 2025, the IRS sees you as a business owner — not a hobbyist. That means different rules, different forms, and a tax bill that blindsides creators who aren’t prepared. The creator economy now includes an estimated 27 million paid content creators in…
Posting a sponsored photo without a disclosure isn’t just an oversight — the FTC can fine brands up to $50,120 per violation as of its 2023 penalty schedule. And enforcement is accelerating. The commission sent warning letters to over 700 influencers and brands in a single sweep, and the UK’s ASA issues public rulings weekly…