A contributor marketplace API must connect discovery to permission. A catalog endpoint is only one part of a system that also needs identity, licensing, client eligibility, usage, and support operations.
Separate discovery from authorization
A browse result can show limited preview information and broad categories, but it should not authorize a client to use an asset. Keep request creation, license review, and generation eligibility as separate calls or states.
Filter results using only approved, current fields. Avoid exposing original reference files or private contributor information in a discovery response.
Validate clients and requests
Before a client request is accepted, verify account eligibility, required agreements, intended use, category, territory, duration, and any contributor-specific exclusions. A request should identify the exact terms version it is being evaluated against.
If a contributor must review each request, create an actionable pending state and send enough context for a decision. If automatic approval is supported, apply only the defined rules and record which checks passed.
Protect the usage ledger
A real usage ledger should reflect events returned by the authorized generation and billing systems. Distinguish a requested license, approved request, started job, delivered output, accrued earning, and completed payout.
Do not fabricate listings, demand, or earnings to make an endpoint look populated. Empty states should be clear and should not imply that a marketplace transaction has taken place.
Launch only after the operational paths work
Identity verification, legal agreements, secure media, payout handling, moderation, reporting, provider generation, and dispute response are dependencies. A public API should not claim these capabilities until each path is authorized and tested.
Approved.video's contributor-marketplace features remain gated while those dependencies are unavailable. The scaffold is designed to keep consent and terms central without presenting placeholder data as live supply.
CLARIFICATIONS
Questions & answers
Can a contributor marketplace API list unverified talent?
A test environment can use clearly marked fixtures. A production marketplace should not present unverified profiles as approved or available.