Built for the clearance paradox.

Every media outlet faces the same bind. Reach out to license third-party content and you risk tipping your hand — increasing your legal exposure if no deal is made, or affecting the price you pay if one is. Don't reach out at all, and you may carry even greater legal exposure for never having attempted to license in the first place.

There's never been a clean path through this — until now.

Chauncy lets media organizations explore licensing anonymously. You submit an inquiry, negotiate terms, and document a good-faith attempt — without revealing your identity, your editorial intent or your outlet — so negotiations are based on the value of the content, not assumptions about you. If a deal closes, both parties sign and identities are disclosed. If not, nothing is.

The problem

Licensing outreach shouldn't increase your legal exposure or distort pricing.

The old way

A producer wants to license a clip for a documentary. She contacts the creator directly to discuss terms, but negotiations stall. Now the creator knows the project exists, understands its potential commercial value, and may anchor pricing to who she is or what they believe her organization can pay — and may be more likely to bring a legal claim than if she had never reached out at all. But if the producer proceeds under fair use without ever reaching out, and the creator learns of the use, the potential for copyright damages can be even greater than if the producer had made a good-faith attempt to license.

The Chauncy way

The same producer submits an anonymous inquiry through Chauncy. The creator receives an offer from a verified media organization — no outlet name, no story details, no contact information. Negotiations proceed entirely within the platform. Identities are only revealed if a deal is made and both parties sign. If not, the inquiry closes and nothing is disclosed. The producer's editorial plans remain her own. Pricing is driven by the content and terms — not the identity of the buyer.

What Chauncy does

Three things, done right.

Anonymous inquiry

Your identity, outlet, and editorial intent are never disclosed to the rights holder — at any point during negotiations. They know a verified media organization is interested. Nothing more. No outlet, no story — and no assumptions driving the price.

Documented attempt

Every inquiry, offer, and exchange is timestamped and archived. If you ever need to demonstrate good-faith effort to license, you have a complete, immutable record. This is the paper trail your legal team actually wants.

Clean resolution

Deal closes: both parties sign, identities are disclosed, payment is secured in escrow. Deal doesn't close: the inquiry is private, nothing is disclosed, and your position is no worse than before you started. And if a deal is reached, it reflects the value of the content — not who was asking.

Who it's for

Built for both sides of a confidential deal.

Media companies

Journalists, producers, and clearance teams.

Any media organization that needs to pursue licensing without revealing what they're working on. Chauncy handles the outreach anonymously, with a documented record, so editorial intent stays protected, legal posture stays intact, and negotiations aren't influenced by assumptions about your organization.

—Breaking news and broadcast journalism
—Documentary and long-form production
—Digital editorial and streaming
—Corporate and branded content
—Archival and library licensing

Apply for access →

Rights holders

Creators, photographers, and video journalists.

When a media organization wants to use your content, you receive a structured offer — not a cold email, not a vague DM. Review the terms, negotiate if you want, sign when you're satisfied. Payment is secured in escrow before you deliver anything.

—No registration required until a deal is closing
—Accept, decline, or counteroffer any inquiry
—Payment guaranteed in escrow before delivery
—Your identity stays private until mutual signing
—No upfront fees — Chauncy earns only when you do

Rights holders are invited via a licensing inquiry. No sign-up needed until a deal is closing.

Ready to start?

Stop choosing between good-faith outreach and the risk of legal exposure or inflated pricing.

Explore licensing confidentially. Document the good-faith attempt. Close the deal — or walk away with your editorial plans and legal posture exactly as you found them. Or close a deal based on the value of the content — not your organization's perceived budget.

Start a clearance request →

Takes under 20 seconds. No commitment.