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How should I feel about my client possibly using my work in their workshop program without compensating me?
Posted by on May 7, 2026 at 12:53 amI only have one client I still do SEO and other tasks for as their practice's marketing analyst.
Few months ago they asked me to be an instructor for a program they are going to launch for people looking to start their own practice, and I would get a percentage of it. I said okay and signed a contract with them off that basis.
Fast forward to now, they are about to launch the program and in passing they told me that they will only have to pay for the videographer for the program which confused me so I asked if that meant they would be doing the SEO education. They said yes.
Now I already know that it will be a mess which is why I just said okay. However, I'm worry that they will use my materials to teach the program which I'm not very cool with that part.
Is this something that I should not be feeling uncomfortable about or should I express that my materials are mine and they would have to pay me for them? They do pay me monthly already as well.
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1 Reply
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Honestly, you should be talking to a lawyer about the contract you signed with them, not a bunch of random people on an SEO forum that may, or may not, know what they are talking about.
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Are you their contract SEO person and they are paying you to do contract SEO and should have paid you for this as part of your contract.
Or are you their salaried marketing analyst who works for them. Very different things and one you can be upset about a little bit (but probably still hooped) and the other you should not even be perturbed in the slightest as it’s part of your job and you should delete this.
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Seems like a copyright issue. If you own the material, you can ask them not to use it, or ask for compensation.
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If they are going to use your materials then worth a chat with them.
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If you created those materials independently, that’s your intellectual property, not theirs to repurpose for a paid program without compensation. The fact that they pay you monthly doesn’t automatically mean they own everything you produce, especially for a revenue-generating product you were originally contracted to be part of. Before it launches, go back to your original contract and check if there’s anything about material ownership. That clause will determine how much ground you’re standing on in that conversation. Also check your employment contract. Consult a lawyer if some sections are unclear. Then have a direct but calm conversation clarifying what materials they plan to use before they launch.
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