Writer Service Agreement

This Writer Service Agreement (“Agreement”) is made between Merit Content (“Company”) and the individual applying or approved to provide writing services (“Writer”). By applying, accepting an assignment, or submitting work to Merit Content, the Writer agrees to the terms below.

1. Scope of Services

The Writer agrees to provide high-quality SEO content writing services, which may include blog posts, website copy, product descriptions, landing pages, email content, and any other writing formats requested by the Company.

All work must:

a) Be original, plagiarism-free, and written exclusively for Merit Content or its clients.

b) Follow the provided brief, tone guidelines, and SEO instructions.

c) Be submitted within the agreed deadlines.

d) Meet Merit Content’s quality standards.

2. Independent Contractor Relationship

The Writer is an independent contractor, not an employee of Merit Content. Nothing in this Agreement shall be interpreted as creating an employer-employee relationship, partnership, or joint venture.

As an independent contractor:

> The Writer is responsible for their own taxes, equipment, and work environment.

> The Writer controls how the work is completed but must meet the Company’s quality requirements.

3. Compensation & Payment Terms

a) Rates are communicated before each assignment.

b) Payments are processed after the work is reviewed and approved by the Company or client.

c) Payment methods may include PayPal, bank transfer, mobile money, or other methods provided by Merit Content.

d) Rejected or incomplete work will not be paid unless otherwise agreed.

Merit Content reserves the right to adjust writer rates, bonuses, or payment schedules at any time with notice.

 

4. Revisions

The Writer agrees to provide reasonable revisions at no additional cost when:

> The request aligns with the original brief, or

> Corrections are required due to errors, poor quality, or deviation from instructions.

Additional revisions or large rewrites caused by changes to the brief may be treated as new assignments.

5. Content Ownership & Copyright

Upon full payment:

a) All rights, titles, and interests in the submitted content transfer to Merit Content or its clients.

b) The Writer may not reuse, republish, resell, or claim ownership of any paid or submitted work.

Ghostwritten content must remain confidential and cannot be added to the Writer’s portfolio without written permission.

6. Confidentiality

The Writer agrees to maintain confidentiality regarding:

a) Client information

b) Project briefs

c) Internal processes, documents, and tools

d) Any non-public information belonging to Merit Content

This obligation continues even after the agreement is terminated.

7. Quality Standards

Merit Content expects all writers to:

a) Submit original, fact-checked, SEO-optimized content

b) Follow guidelines, brand voice, and keyword usage

c) Avoid plagiarism, AI-generated content without disclosure, or false information

d) Use proper grammar, structure, and readability

Writers who fail to meet quality expectations may be removed from the network.

8. Deadlines & Communication

The Writer must:

a) Submit work by the agreed deadline

b) Notify the Company as soon as possible if unable to meet a deadline

c) Respond promptly to messages, feedback, and revision requests

Chronic delays may result in removal from the writer network.

9. Rejection of Work

Merit Content reserves the right to reject any work that:

a) Contains plagiarism or unoriginal content

b) Does not follow instructions

c) Is low quality or inaccurate

d) Appears to be AI-generated without compliance with Company guidelines

Rejected work will not be paid unless corrected.

 

10. Term & Termination

This Agreement remains in effect as long as the Writer continues to accept assignments from Merit Content.

The Company may suspend or terminate the Writer immediately for:

a) Poor performance

b) Missed deadlines 

c) Plagiarism or unethical behavior

d) Breach of this Agreement

e) Unprofessional communication

The Writer may terminate the agreement at any time by providing written notice.

11. Non-Solicitation

The Writer agrees not to:

a) Contact clients directly

b) Offer freelance services to any Merit Content client

c) Bypass Merit Content to work with its clients outside the platform

This restriction applies for 12 months after the last assignment completed.

12. Liability

The Writer is solely responsible for:

a) The accuracy and legality of the content submitted

b) Any issues arising from plagiarism, copyright infringement, or misinformation

Merit Content is not liable for damages arising from the Writer’s actions.

13. Modifications

Merit Content may update this Agreement at any time. Writers will be notified of any material changes, and continued participation constitutes acceptance.

14. Acceptance

By applying, accepting tasks, or submitting content, the Writer acknowledges and agrees to the terms of this Writer Service Agreement.