Creator Earnings Assurance Program Guidelines

The LYKSTAGE Creator Earnings Assurance Program is an invite-only initiative currently available for selected creators in the India, US, UK, UAE, and Canada. LYKSTAGE may expand the program to additional countries in the future at its discretion.

Participation is offered at LYKSTAGE’s discretion and is not automatically available to all creators. The assurance applies only to specific content approved under the program and does not extend automatically to the creator’s full channel or future uploads. LYKSTAGE reserves the right to approve, reject, pause, or withdraw participation in the program at its sole discretion.

To participate in the Creator Earnings Assurance Program, invited and approved creators must follow the instructions provided by the LYKSTAGE team, including content submission, upload timing, promotional requirements, and any verification steps required for payout. Creators must ensure that all submitted content is original, legally compliant, and does not infringe third-party rights.

All content must comply with LYKSTAGE’s Terms of Service, Community Guidelines, copyright policies, and monetization rules. LYKSTAGE reserves the right to approve, reject, pause, or withdraw program participation at its sole discretion.

For videos a creator selects, LYKSTAGE assures that your LYKSTAGE earnings on each Selected Video reach at least 50% of what the same video earns on YouTube over a 30-day Earnings Window that runs in parallel on both platforms. If your LYKSTAGE earnings fall short of that threshold, we close the gap with an Earnings Match Bonus after we’ve verified the YouTube numbers.

It’s not an advance and it’s not paid on top of your LYKSTAGE earnings. It’s a contractual safety net that tops you up to the 50% floor if your organic LYKSTAGE earnings don’t get you there.

How it works

1. You upload the Selected Video to YouTube and LYKSTAGE within 48 hours of each other (the Synchronization Window).
2. A 30-day Earnings Window starts on the later of your two upload dates and runs in parallel on both platforms.
3. You grant LYKSTAGE read-only verification access to YouTube Analytics for the Selected Video — typically by adding our designated email as a limited-permission user via YouTube Studio.
4. Whenever you promote or link to the YouTube version of that video — in paid ads, social posts, your email list, link-in-bio, podcast mentions, anywhere — you also link to the LYKSTAGE version in the same channel with comparable prominence. We call this Linked Promotion, and it keeps the Programme aligned on both sides.
5. By approximately Day 75 (after YouTube has reconciled its earnings figures), we share a calculation worksheet with you and pay the Earnings Match Bonus, if any, in your next regular LYKSTAGE payout cycle.

Worked example

What we’ll need from you

• A reply to this email saying you’d like to move forward.
• Signed copies of the Programme Terms of Service Addendum and the Country Schedule for your market (we’ll send these once you say yes).
• Tax and identity documentation specific to your country (W-9 / W-8BEN for U.S.; HMRC details for U.K.; PAN and GSTIN if applicable for India; trade-licence and TRN for UAE; SIN and BN for Canada — your Country Schedule will be specific).
• Verification access to YouTube Analytics for each Selected Video.

A few things to be transparent about

• The Programme is offered at LYKSTAGE’s sole discretion. We can modify, suspend, or terminate the Programme — or change its terms — at any time, subject only to honoring bonuses already finally calculated under the Addendum.
• The bonus depends on verifying redeemable YouTube earnings. If YouTube demonetizes or restricts your Selected Video during the window, the YouTube earnings used in the calculation may be reduced accordingly.
• If we pay you a bonus, we ask you to keep the Selected Video live on LYKSTAGE until it has organically earned enough revenue to cover the bonus. If you take it down early, we may recover the unrecouped portion.
• You can leave the Programme on 30 days’ notice. So can we.

What the program does

For each video you designate as a “Selected Video,” LYKSTAGE assures you an Earnings Match Bonus over a single 30-day Earnings Window that runs in parallel on both platforms. The window starts at 00:00 UTC on the later of your YouTube and LYKSTAGE upload dates for that video — we call this the Window Start Date — provided you’ve uploaded on both platforms within 48 hours of each other. Over that 30-day window, the bonus, if any, brings your LYKSTAGE earnings on the Selected Video up to 50% of the Verified YouTube Earnings on the same Selected Video for the same period.

If your LYKSTAGE earnings already meet or exceed 50% of YouTube earnings for that window, no bonus is owed and the assurance is satisfied.

What we need from you

• Content match and synchronized upload. Upload the exact same video on LYKSTAGE that you upload on YouTube — same file or equivalent quality, same title, same description, same thumbnail, same duration, same edit — and within 48 hours of each other on the two platforms. Material differences in content disqualify the video from the program; so does an asynchronous upload outside the 48-hour Synchronization Window, unless we agree to it in writing in advance.
• Earnings verification. Grant LYKSTAGE read-only access to YouTube Analytics for the Selected Video. The simplest method is to add a designated LYKSTAGE verification email as a Viewer (limited) on your YouTube channel via YouTube Studio. You confirm that providing this access is consistent with YouTube’s Terms of Service.
• Tax and identity forms. Before we can pay any bonus, we’ll need the tax and identity documentation listed in the Country Schedule for your market — for example, IRS Form W-9 or W-8BEN/W-8BEN-E in the United States; HMRC self-employment information in the United Kingdom; PAN and (if registered) GST particulars in India; trade-licence and (if registered) VAT particulars in the UAE; SIN and (if registered) GST/HST/QST particulars in Canada.
• Bank or payout details. Confirm the payout method and currency on file in your LYKSTAGE Creator account. Bonus payments are made in the currency we ordinarily use for your account (typically the currency of your country), converted at the FX rate on the Bonus Calculation Date.
• Linked promotion. Whenever you promote or link to the YouTube version of a Selected Video — paid ads, organic posts, your email or SMS list, podcast or livestream mention, link-in-bio, in-video CTA, sponsor read-out, anywhere — you also promote or link to the LYKSTAGE version of the same video, in the same channel, with comparable prominence and reach. The simple rule: no audience touchpoint should see the YouTube link without an equivalent LYKSTAGE link. You’re also responsible for complying with the influencer-disclosure rules that apply in your country (FTC in the US; ASA / CAP Code in the UK; Competition Bureau in Canada; ASCI in India; UAE Media Council guidelines in the UAE).

How verification and bonus payout work

• Day 0 — Window Start Date: You have published the Selected Video on YouTube and LYKSTAGE within 48 hours of each other. The 30-day Earnings Window starts at 00:00 UTC on the later of the two upload dates and runs in parallel on both platforms.
• Day 30: The window closes. We snapshot LYKSTAGE earnings on the Selected Video.
• Day 30 – Day 60 (Verification Period): We verify Verified YouTube Earnings for the same window via the access you’ve granted. We allow up to 30 additional days because YouTube reconciles earnings (refunds, invalid traffic, etc.) for some time after the period ends.
• By Day 75 (Bonus Calculation Date): We calculate the Earnings Match Bonus, share the worksheet with you, and — if a bonus is owed — schedule payment per your standard LYKSTAGE payout cycle, after applying the tax treatment specified in your Country Schedule.

If we cannot verify YouTube earnings during the Verification Period — for example, because access was revoked, the YouTube channel was suspended, or the Selected Video was removed from YouTube — we may pause or cancel the bonus for that Selected Video. We’ll always tell you why.

Things we want to be transparent about

• The assurance is a contractual obligation from LYKSTAGE, not a financial guaranty under any banking, securities, or consumer-protection law in any of our operating markets. The bonus depends on verifying redeemable YouTube earnings.
• If YouTube demonetizes, restricts, or makes the Selected Video ineligible for redemption during the 30-day window, the YouTube earnings used in the calculation may be reduced accordingly.
• If a bonus is paid, we ask you to keep the Selected Video live on LYKSTAGE until it has organically generated enough revenue to cover the bonus paid. If you take it down before then, we may recover the unearned portion of the bonus.
• The program is selective. LYKSTAGE may end the program, or your participation, on 30 days’ notice.

Why we’re doing this

We believe the most powerful way for a watch-time monetization platform to win creators is to remove the financial risk of trying it. If your video does well on LYKSTAGE — great, you earn organically. If it doesn’t reach 50% of YouTube’s revenue in 30 days, we close the gap. Either way, you’ve given LYKSTAGE a fair shot, and your audience has discovered a platform where their watch time is rewarded too.

If you have any questions, the Program FAQ is below. When you’re ready, sign and return the Program Terms of Service Addendum and your Country Schedule, and we’ll get you set up.

FAQs

Country-specific FAQ notes

Indian creators

Bonus payments to Indian-resident creators are subject to Tax Deducted at Source under applicable Income-tax Act provisions; we will deduct TDS at the prescribed rate (a higher rate applies if PAN is not provided) and issue a TDS certificate. If you are GST-registered, please share your GSTIN; bonus payments may be treated as consideration for a taxable supply, in which case we will accept a valid GST invoice. Cross-border payments are routed through banking channels in compliance with FEMA and AD Bank reporting requirements.

United States creators

Bonus payments are reported on IRS Form 1099-NEC where total annual payments equal or exceed the IRS reporting threshold. We require Form W-9 (U.S. taxpayers) or W-8BEN / W-8BEN-E (non-U.S. taxpayers paid through a U.S. entity) on file before bonus payment. Backup withholding may apply where Form W-9 is missing or incorrect. California residents have additional rights under the CCPA / CPRA; see the LYKSTAGE Privacy Policy.

United Kingdom creators

LYKSTAGE does not deduct income tax or National Insurance from bonus payments to U.K.-resident creators; you are responsible for declaring bonus income to HMRC under self-assessment. If you are VAT-registered, the VAT treatment of the bonus depends on how it is characterized for VAT purposes — we will confirm in the calculation worksheet and accept a valid VAT invoice from you where applicable. Influencer-disclosure obligations under the ASA and CAP Code apply to your promotional content.

UAE creators

Individuals in the UAE are not subject to personal income tax on bonus payments, but creators operating through a corporate entity may be subject to UAE Corporate Tax above the AED 375,000 threshold. If you are VAT-registered, please share your TRN; we will accept a tax invoice in line with FTA requirements. Creators operating from DIFC or ADGM are subject to those zones’ own data-protection regimes, which we accommodate in your Country Schedule.

Canadian creators

For Canadian-resident creators, we issue a T4A slip for bonus amounts above the CRA reporting threshold. GST/HST and (in Quebec) QST treatment depends on your registration status; if you are registered, please share your registration numbers. Quebec-resident creators may receive a French-language version of the onboarding letter and Country Schedule on request, in line with the Charter of the French Language.

Program Terms of Service Addendum

This Addendum is a legally binding agreement between LYK Inc., a Delaware corporation operating LYKSTAGE (“LYKSTAGE”), and the creator identified in the signature block (“Creator”). It supplements, and does not replace, the LYKSTAGE Creator Terms of Service in force between the parties (the “General Creator Terms”). The Country Schedule for Creator’s tax-residence market (set out in Part D) supplements this Addendum and, where it conflicts with this Addendum, controls. Capitalized terms not defined here have the meanings given in the General Creator Terms.

1. Definitions

• “Program” means the LYKSTAGE Creator Revenue Assurance Program described in this Addendum.
• “Selected Video” means a video that LYKSTAGE and Creator have mutually designated in writing (including by email confirmation) as eligible for the Program. Designation may be limited, revoked, or refused by LYKSTAGE in its discretion at any time before the LYKSTAGE upload date.
• “Synchronization Window” means a period of forty-eight (48) hours between Creator’s first publication of the Selected Video on YouTube and Creator’s first publication of the same Selected Video on LYKSTAGE. Both publications must fall within this period for the Selected Video to qualify for the Program. LYKSTAGE may, in its sole discretion and in writing, designate a Selected Video where the Synchronization Window is exceeded; absent such written designation, an asynchronous upload disqualifies the Selected Video from the Program.
• “Window Start Date” means, for a Selected Video, the later of (i) the date the Selected Video is first published on YouTube and (ii) the date the Selected Video is first published on LYKSTAGE, provided both publications fall within the Synchronization Window.
• “Earnings Window” means the period of thirty (30) consecutive calendar days beginning at 00:00 UTC on the Window Start Date for the Selected Video, during which earnings on the Selected Video are simultaneously measured on YouTube and LYKSTAGE.
• “LYKSTAGE Earnings” means the gross creator-share revenue actually credited to Creator’s LYKSTAGE creator account in respect of the Selected Video for views occurring within the Earnings Window, as determined by LYKSTAGE’s books and records.
• “Verified YouTube Earnings” means the net redeemable earnings reported by YouTube to Creator in respect of the same Selected Video for views occurring within the same Earnings Window, after YouTube’s standard reconciliation, exclusive of any earnings that YouTube has not made redeemable to Creator (including earnings withheld for invalid traffic, copyright disputes, limited monetization, or any other reason).
• “Earnings Match Bonus” means an amount equal to the greater of zero and (50% × Verified YouTube Earnings) minus LYKSTAGE Earnings, calculated and paid in accordance with this Addendum and the applicable Country Schedule.
• “Bonus Calculation Date” means the date — not later than seventy-five (75) calendar days after the Window Start Date for the Selected Video — on which LYKSTAGE finalizes the Earnings Match Bonus for that Selected Video.
• “Recoupment Threshold” means the cumulative LYKSTAGE Earnings on a Selected Video sufficient, after the Earnings Window ends, to fully offset any Earnings Match Bonus paid for that Selected Video.
• “Country Schedule” means the schedule in Part D applicable to the country of Creator’s tax residence at the Effective Date, as updated from time to time.

2. Selective, Discretionary Participation; LYKSTAGE Reservation of Rights

Participation in the Program is by invitation only and is not generally available on LYKSTAGE. LYKSTAGE may invite, decline to invite, suspend, or terminate Creator’s participation, in whole or with respect to any specific Selected Video, in its sole and absolute discretion, subject only to the notice obligations in Section 9. Nothing in this Addendum, the General Creator Terms, the LYKSTAGE Privacy Policy, the LYKSTAGE FAQs, or any LYKSTAGE marketing communication obliges LYKSTAGE to invite any creator into the Program, to designate any video as a Selected Video, to keep the Program in operation, or to operate the Program on consistent terms across creators or markets.

LYKSTAGE expressly reserves the right, in its sole discretion and without consent of any creator, to (a) modify the structure, eligibility, mechanics, calculation methodology, payment timing, recoupment terms, or any other element of the Program; (b) suspend or terminate the Program in whole, in any market, or with respect to any creator or any Selected Video; (c) discontinue accepting new participants; and (d) treat different creators differently within the Program based on factors LYKSTAGE determines relevant. The exercise of any of these rights does not entitle any creator to compensation, except that LYKSTAGE shall honor Earnings Match Bonuses already finally calculated and owed in accordance with Section 5 and Section 9. No creator has any right, entitlement, or expectation to be invited to or considered for the Program, and no statement by LYKSTAGE in any forum creates such a right.

3. Identical Content and Synchronized Upload

For each Selected Video, Creator shall publish on LYKSTAGE the same video content as the corresponding video published on YouTube, with the same title, description, thumbnail image, language, and material metadata, and at quality, resolution, and audio fidelity equivalent to or better than the YouTube version. LYKSTAGE may compare the two versions at any time. Material differences disqualify the affected Selected Video from the Program and may, at LYKSTAGE’s discretion, terminate the Program for Creator.

Creator shall first publish the Selected Video on LYKSTAGE within the Synchronization Window (48 hours) of its first publication on YouTube. The intent is that the 30-day Earnings Window applies symmetrically and concurrently to both platforms, so the comparison of YouTube and LYKSTAGE earnings is on a like-for-like calendar basis and neither platform receives a head start. A Selected Video first published on YouTube outside the Synchronization Window is not eligible for the Program absent LYKSTAGE’s prior written designation.

4. Earnings Verification and Creator Access Grant

As a condition to receiving any Earnings Match Bonus, Creator shall, before the end of the Earnings Window, provide LYKSTAGE with read-only verification access to YouTube Analytics and earnings reporting for the Selected Video, by adding a designated LYKSTAGE verification email as a limited-permission user on Creator’s YouTube channel or by another method LYKSTAGE accepts in writing. Creator represents and warrants that:

• Creator owns or controls the YouTube channel on which the Selected Video is published;
• Granting the verification access described in this Section does not violate any agreement to which Creator is a party, including without limitation YouTube’s Terms of Service and YouTube Partner Program terms; and
• Creator will not revoke the access until LYKSTAGE has finalized the Bonus Calculation for the relevant Selected Video, except for cause notified to LYKSTAGE in writing.

LYKSTAGE shall use the data accessed solely to verify Verified YouTube Earnings and to administer the Program, shall keep the data confidential, and shall handle it in accordance with the data-protection law identified in the applicable Country Schedule, the LYKSTAGE Privacy Policy, and any data-processing addendum signed between the parties. LYKSTAGE shall not be liable for any consequences arising from Creator’s grant of, or YouTube’s response to, such access.

5. Earnings Match Bonus — Calculation and Payment

On the Bonus Calculation Date for each Selected Video, LYKSTAGE shall calculate the Earnings Match Bonus in accordance with the formula in Section 1(f), share the calculation worksheet with Creator, and — if a bonus is owed — schedule payment in Creator’s next regular LYKSTAGE creator payout cycle, subject to:

• LYKSTAGE having received from Creator the tax and identity documentation required by the applicable Country Schedule;
• Applicable withholding under the tax laws of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United Arab Emirates, India, or any other applicable jurisdiction, which LYKSTAGE may deduct from the bonus before payment in accordance with the applicable Country Schedule;
• Currency conversion at the rate published by LYKSTAGE’s payment processor on the Bonus Calculation Date, where YouTube and LYKSTAGE earnings are denominated in different currencies;
• No outstanding dispute, fraud investigation, or material breach by Creator under this Addendum, the Country Schedule, or the General Creator Terms; and
• Verified YouTube Earnings being capable of verification through the access granted under Section 4.

If verification is not possible during the Verification Period despite LYKSTAGE’s reasonable efforts, LYKSTAGE may, at its option, defer or cancel the bonus for the affected Selected Video. The Earnings Match Bonus is paid only as set forth in this Addendum and the applicable Country Schedule and does not entitle Creator to any percentage of LYKSTAGE’s overall revenues or to any other payment.

6. Disputes Regarding Calculation

Creator shall have fifteen (15) calendar days from the date the calculation worksheet is shared to raise a written dispute identifying the specific items challenged and the supporting basis. LYKSTAGE will review the dispute in good faith and notify Creator of its determination within thirty (30) days of receipt. The parties agree to attempt to resolve any calculation dispute amicably before invoking the dispute-resolution mechanism in Section 13 and the Country Schedule.

7. Content Retention and Recoupment

If LYKSTAGE has paid an Earnings Match Bonus for a Selected Video, Creator shall keep the Selected Video published on LYKSTAGE, and shall not unpublish, privatize, materially alter, geo-restrict, or remove the Selected Video, until the Recoupment Threshold for that Selected Video is met. If Creator removes or materially alters the Selected Video before the Recoupment Threshold is met, LYKSTAGE may recover the unrecouped portion of the Earnings Match Bonus by offset against future creator payouts, by invoice, or by any other lawful means. This recoupment right is the exclusive financial remedy for premature removal.

8. Linked Promotion, Marketing Use, and Disclosure

Whenever Creator promotes, links to, or otherwise drives traffic to the YouTube version of a Selected Video — whether through paid advertising, organic social media, email or SMS communications to subscribers, podcast or livestream mentions, in-video calls-to-action, link-in-bio, cross-promotion, sponsorship copy, or any other channel — Creator shall, in the same channel and with comparable prominence, format, and audience reach, also promote or link to the LYKSTAGE version of the same Selected Video. The operating principle is that no audience touchpoint exposes the YouTube link to the Selected Video without an equivalent LYKSTAGE link. This obligation applies during the Earnings Window and continues thereafter for so long as the Selected Video remains published on either platform.

Creator authorizes LYKSTAGE to identify Creator as a participating creator, and to use Creator’s name, channel name, and Selected Video stills or short clips in LYKSTAGE’s marketing and investor communications during and after the Term, subject to Creator’s right to revoke this authorization on thirty (30) days’ written notice for future use.

Creator shall comply with all influencer-disclosure and advertising-transparency rules applicable in Creator’s country of residence, including those identified in the applicable Country Schedule.

9. Term and Termination

This Addendum takes effect on the date Creator signs it (the “Effective Date”) and continues until terminated. Either party may terminate this Addendum for convenience on thirty (30) days’ written notice. LYKSTAGE may terminate this Addendum, or any specific Selected Video designation, immediately for cause, including without limitation Creator’s breach of Section 3, 4, 7, 10, or 11, fraud, manipulation of metrics, or violation of LYKSTAGE community or content policies. Termination does not affect bonuses already finally calculated and owed to Creator for Selected Videos whose Earnings Window started before the termination date, except where LYKSTAGE terminates for cause based on fraud or material breach, in which case all unpaid bonuses are forfeit and LYKSTAGE may recoup any bonus paid in connection with the breaching conduct.

10. Creator Representations and Warranties

Creator represents and warrants that, for each Selected Video and at all times during the Earnings Window:

• Creator first published the Selected Video on LYKSTAGE within the Synchronization Window of its first publication on YouTube, and Creator has complied with the Linked Promotion obligation in Section 8 in respect of every channel through which Creator promotes the Selected Video;
• Creator owns or controls all rights necessary to upload and monetize the Selected Video on both YouTube and LYKSTAGE;
• The Selected Video does not infringe the intellectual-property, privacy, publicity, or other rights of any third party, and does not violate the LYKSTAGE Community Guidelines, YouTube Community Guidelines, or applicable law in Creator’s country of residence or the LYKSTAGE markets in which the Selected Video is distributed;
• Creator has not artificially inflated views, watch time, or engagement on either YouTube or LYKSTAGE in respect of the Selected Video, including through bots, paid view fraud, click farms, or incentivized non-genuine viewing;
• Creator is not subject to any active YouTube strike, copyright dispute, or monetization restriction that materially affects the Selected Video at the time of upload; and
• Creator’s grant of verification access under Section 4 does not breach any third-party agreement.

Breach of any of these representations may, at LYKSTAGE’s option, disqualify the affected Selected Video, terminate the Program for Creator, and trigger recoupment of any related bonuses.

11. Confidentiality

Each party shall keep confidential the non-public terms of this Addendum, the calculation worksheets, and any non-public business information of the other party disclosed under the Program. Neither party shall publicly disclose the financial terms of the Program, the bonus amounts paid or owed, or the verification data, except: (a) as required by law, regulation, or legal process; (b) to professional advisors bound by confidentiality; (c) to investors, lenders, or acquirers under customary confidentiality obligations; or (d) with the other party’s prior written consent. The marketing-use authorization in Section 8 is an agreed exception to this clause.

12. Disclaimers and Limitation of Liability

THE PROGRAM IS A CONTRACTUAL ASSURANCE OFFERED BY LYKSTAGE AND IS NOT A FINANCIAL GUARANTY, INVESTMENT, SECURITY, OR DEPOSIT IN ANY OF THE OPERATING JURISDICTIONS. LYKSTAGE DOES NOT REPRESENT OR WARRANT ANY MINIMUM AMOUNT OF YOUTUBE EARNINGS, LYKSTAGE EARNINGS, OR EARNINGS MATCH BONUS. EXCEPT FOR LYKSTAGE’S OBLIGATION TO PAY EARNINGS MATCH BONUSES OWED UNDER THIS ADDENDUM, ALL ASPECTS OF THE PROGRAM ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.”

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, neither party shall be liable to the other for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, exemplary, or punitive damages arising out of or relating to this Addendum, even if advised of the possibility of such damages. LYKSTAGE’s aggregate liability arising out of or relating to this Addendum shall not exceed the greater of (a) the aggregate Earnings Match Bonuses owed to Creator under this Addendum at the time the claim arose and (b) USD 1,000 (or the equivalent in Creator’s payout currency). Nothing in this clause limits liability that cannot be excluded under applicable law in Creator’s country of residence — including, without limitation, statutory rights under the U.K. Consumer Rights Act 2015, the Indian Consumer Protection Act 2019, the U.A.E. Consumer Protection Law, Canadian provincial consumer-protection laws, and U.S. state consumer-protection laws.

13. Indemnification

Creator shall defend, indemnify, and hold harmless LYKSTAGE, its affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any third-party claims, damages, liabilities, losses, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or relating to (a) any Selected Video, including any claim of intellectual-property infringement or violation of third-party rights; (b) Creator’s breach of any representation, warranty, or covenant in this Addendum or the applicable Country Schedule; or (c) Creator’s grant of access under Section 4.

14. Privacy and Data Protection

LYKSTAGE processes personal data and earnings data accessed under Section 4 in accordance with the LYKSTAGE Privacy Policy and the data-protection law identified in the applicable Country Schedule — which may include, depending on Creator’s residence: the EU GDPR, the U.K. GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018, the California Consumer Privacy Act / California Privacy Rights Act, India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023, the U.A.E. Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on Personal Data Protection (or the DIFC Data Protection Law 2020 / ADGM Data Protection Regulations 2021 where applicable), and Canada’s PIPEDA together with provincial laws (Quebec Law 25, Alberta PIPA, B.C. PIPA). Where applicable, the parties shall enter into a separate data-processing addendum on LYKSTAGE’s standard form. The verification data is used solely to administer the Program and is retained only for the period necessary to satisfy tax, audit, dispute-resolution, and regulatory obligations.

15. Independent Parties; No Agency

The parties are independent contractors. Nothing in this Addendum creates a partnership, joint venture, employment, agency, or franchise relationship. Neither party has authority to bind the other.

16. Assignment

Creator may not assign this Addendum without LYKSTAGE’s prior written consent. LYKSTAGE may assign this Addendum, in whole or in part, to an affiliate or in connection with a merger, reorganization, or sale of all or substantially all of its assets relating to the Program.

17. Notices

Notices under this Addendum shall be in writing and delivered by email to the addresses set forth in the signature block, or to such other address as a party may designate by notice. Notices are deemed given on the next business day after transmission, absent a failure-to-deliver notification. Notices to LYKSTAGE shall be copied to  legal@lykstage.com

18. Modifications

LYKSTAGE may amend this Addendum or any Country Schedule on thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to Creator. If Creator does not accept the amendment, Creator’s exclusive remedy is to terminate this Addendum under Section 9 before the amendment takes effect. Continued participation after the effective date of the amendment constitutes acceptance.

19. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution — Default

Subject to the Country Schedule, which controls where it sets a different governing law or dispute-resolution forum, this Addendum shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict-of-laws principles. Any dispute arising out of or relating to this Addendum that cannot be resolved through good-faith negotiation shall be finally resolved by binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association under its Commercial Arbitration Rules then in effect, with the seat of arbitration in New York, New York, U.S.A. Each party retains the right to seek injunctive or equitable relief in any court of competent jurisdiction to protect its intellectual property or confidential information. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, the parties waive any right to participate in a class, collective, or representative action; this waiver does not apply to the extent it is unenforceable in Creator’s country of residence.

20. Miscellaneous

This Addendum, together with the General Creator Terms, the LYKSTAGE Privacy Policy, and the applicable Country Schedule, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the Program. If any provision is held unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in effect, and the unenforceable provision shall be reformed only to the minimum extent necessary. Failure to enforce any right is not a waiver. This Addendum may be executed in counterparts, including by electronic signature.

21. Country-Specific Provisions

Where Creator’s country of tax residence at the Effective Date is one of the LYKSTAGE live markets for which a Country Schedule has been issued (United States, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Canada or India), the applicable Country Schedule supplements this Addendum and, to the extent of any conflict, controls in respect of:

1. tax and identity documentation required from Creator;
2. withholding obligations of LYKSTAGE;
3. currency, payment infrastructure, and invoicing;
4. the specific data-protection law applicable to Creator and any cross-border transfer mechanism;
5. advertising and influencer-disclosure rules;
6. consumer-protection or commercial-law caveats applicable to Creator; and
7. governing law, seat, and dispute-resolution forum. For a country in which Creator is tax-resident but for which no Country Schedule has yet been issued, the New Country Onboarding Framework in Part E and the Default Provisions therein apply until LYKSTAGE issues a Country Schedule for that market.

Country Schedules

Each Country Schedule below is a stand-alone supplement to the Addendum and applies to creators tax-resident in the named country. In each schedule the section numbers below correspond to the Addendum sections they supplement or override.

1. Schedule IN — India

Tax and identity documentation (supplements §5)

• Indian-resident individuals: Permanent Account Number (PAN), Aadhaar (where required for tax linkage), and bank account details for INR payout.
• Indian-incorporated entities: PAN, CIN, and (if registered) GST Identification Number (GSTIN).
• Non-resident creators receiving payment in India: Tax Residency Certificate (TRC) and Form 10F to claim treaty benefits where applicable.

Withholding (supplements §5)

Bonus payments to Indian-resident creators are subject to Tax Deducted at Source under the Income-tax Act 1961. LYKSTAGE (or its Indian payments partner) shall deduct TDS at the rate prescribed by the relevant section that applies to the characterization of the payment, with a higher rate where Creator has not provided a valid PAN. LYKSTAGE shall issue Form 16A or the applicable TDS certificate within the statutory timeline.

GST (supplements §5)

If Creator is GST-registered, Creator shall issue a tax invoice for the bonus where it constitutes consideration for a taxable supply, applying GST at the prevailing rate (currently 18% for most services). LYKSTAGE will pay the GST amount in addition to the bonus where applicable. Where the recipient of the supply is outside India, the export-of-services and zero-rated-supply rules may apply; the parties will follow the position confirmed by Creator’s tax adviser.

Currency, payments, and FEMA (supplements §5)

Bonus payments are made in INR to a domestic Indian bank account, processed through LYKSTAGE’s designated Indian payments partner, in compliance with the Foreign Exchange Management Act 1999 and Reserve Bank of India directions, including AD Bank reporting requirements. Creator shall provide any documentation reasonably required for inward-remittance reporting.

Data protection (supplements §14)

Verification and personal data are processed under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 once notified into force, the Information Technology Act 2000 (and the Information Technology (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures and Sensitive Personal Data or Information) Rules 2011 to the extent still in force), and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021. International transfers to LYK Inc. (Delaware) are made in line with DPDPA cross-border-transfer mechanisms once notified. Creator may exercise data-principal rights through the LYKSTAGE Privacy portal.

Advertising and disclosure (supplements §8)

Creator shall comply with the Advertising Standards Council of India’s Guidelines for Influencer Advertising in Digital Media, including conspicuous disclosure of any material connection with LYKSTAGE in promotional content (“#ad”, “Sponsored by LYKSTAGE”, or equivalent), and with the Consumer Protection Act 2019 and the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules 2020 to the extent applicable.

Consumer-protection caveat (supplements §12)

Nothing in this Addendum or this Schedule limits any statutory right or remedy of Creator under the Consumer Protection Act 2019 to the extent Creator qualifies as a “consumer” under that Act.

Governing law and dispute resolution (overrides §19)

This Addendum, as supplemented by this Schedule, is governed by the laws of the Republic of India. Any dispute is finally resolved by binding arbitration administered by the Mumbai Centre for International Arbitration under its Arbitration Rules then in effect, with the seat in Mumbai, India, in the English language, by a sole arbitrator unless the parties agree otherwise. The class-action waiver in §19 of the Addendum does not apply to the extent it is unenforceable under Indian law.

2. Schedule US - United States

Tax and identity documentation (supplements §5)

US-resident individuals and entities: IRS Form W-9 (or W-8BEN/W-8BEN-E for applicable non-US persons operating in the US market) and bank account details for USD payout.

Withholding (supplements §5)

Bonus payments to US creators will be reported on IRS Form 1099-MISC or 1099-NEC as required by US tax law. LYKSTAGE will not withhold taxes unless subject to backup withholding due to failure to provide a valid TIN.

Data protection (supplements §14)

Verification and personal data are processed under applicable US state privacy laws, including the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA).

Advertising and disclosure (supplements §8)

Creator shall comply with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Endorsement Guides, requiring clear and conspicuous disclosure of material connections in all promotional content.

Governing law and dispute resolution (overrides §19)

This Addendum is governed by the laws of the State of Delaware. Any dispute is finally resolved by binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association (AAA) under its Commercial Arbitration Rules, with the seat in New York, NY.

3. Schedule UK — United Kingdom

Tax and identity documentation (supplements §5)

UK-resident creators: HMRC Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) and, if registered, Value Added Tax (VAT) registration number.

Withholding (supplements §5)

Creators are responsible for declaring their own income to HMRC. LYKSTAGE will pay the bonus gross of income tax. If Creator is VAT-registered, Creator shall issue a valid VAT invoice, and LYKSTAGE will pay the applicable VAT amount in addition to the bonus.

Data protection (supplements §14)

Verification and personal data are processed under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

Advertising and disclosure (supplements §8)

Creator shall comply with the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) and CAP Code rules on recognizing marketing communications.

Governing law and dispute resolution (overrides §19)

This Addendum is governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any dispute is finally resolved by binding arbitration administered by the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA).

4. Schedule UAE — United Arab Emirates

Tax and identity documentation (supplements §5)

UAE-resident creators: Valid Trade License and, if registered, Tax Registration Number (TRN).

Withholding and VAT (supplements §5)

If Creator is registered for VAT, Creator shall issue a valid tax invoice for the bonus. LYKSTAGE will pay the applicable VAT (currently 5%) in addition to the bonus.

Data protection (supplements §14)

Verification and personal data are processed under the UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on Personal Data Protection (PDPL).

Advertising and disclosure (supplements §8)

Creator shall comply with the UAE Media Council guidelines for influencer advertising, including securing necessary permits (e.g., NMC license) where applicable.

Governing law and dispute resolution (overrides §19)

This Addendum is governed by the federal laws of the United Arab Emirates. Any dispute is finally resolved by binding arbitration administered by the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC).

5. Schedule CA — Canada

Tax and identity documentation (supplements §5)

• Canadian-resident individuals: Social Insurance Number (SIN) and date of birth, collected and stored only as required for CRA reporting.
• Canadian-incorporated entities: Business Number (BN) and (if registered) GST/HST and QST account numbers.
• Non-resident creators paid through a Canadian payments rail: Form NR301 / NR302 / NR303 to claim treaty benefits where applicable.

Withholding (supplements §5)

Bonus payments to Canadian-resident creators are reported on Form T4A where required by the Income Tax Regulations; LYKSTAGE does not withhold federal income tax on T4A-reportable amounts to self-employed creators absent a CRA notice. Regulation 105 withholding (15% federal, plus 9% Quebec where applicable) is generally not anticipated for the bonus, as services are not rendered in Canada; the parties will revisit if facts change.

Indirect taxes (supplements §5)

If Creator is GST/HST-registered, the bonus may be consideration for a taxable supply, in which case LYKSTAGE will operate on a self-billing basis or accept a valid invoice with applicable GST/HST. QST applies for Quebec-registered creators on the same basis.

Currency and payments (supplements §5)

Bonus payments are made in CAD, processed through LYKSTAGE’s designated Canadian payments provider.

Data protection (supplements §14)

Verification and personal data are processed under the federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and, where applicable, Quebec Law 25 (Act respecting the protection of personal information in the private sector), Alberta’s PIPA, and British Columbia’s PIPA. International transfers to LYK Inc. (Delaware) are documented under PIPEDA’s accountability principle and Quebec Law 25’s privacy-impact-assessment requirements.

Language requirements (supplements §17)

Creators tax-resident in Quebec may, on request, receive the onboarding letter, Country Schedule, and calculation worksheets in French in line with the Charter of the French Language as amended by Bill 96. The English version controls in case of inconsistency only to the extent permitted by that Charter.

Advertising and disclosure (supplements §8)

Creator shall comply with the Competition Bureau’s Deceptive Marketing Practices Digest and Influencer Marketing Guidance, the Ad Standards Code, and (for Quebec audiences) the Consumer Protection Act provisions on advertising directed at children where applicable.

CASL (supplements §17)

Any commercial electronic messages between the parties are sent in compliance with Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation; the Program engagement constitutes an existing business relationship for CASL purposes for the duration of the Term.

Governing law and dispute resolution (overrides §19)

This Addendum, as supplemented by this Schedule, is governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein. Any dispute is finally resolved by binding arbitration administered by ADR Chambers under its Arbitration Rules, with the seat in Toronto, Ontario, in the English language (or French at the Creator’s request, where the Creator is Quebec-resident).