Publicity & Announcements Clause
Also called: Press Release Clause · Public Disclosure Restriction
A publicity clause restricts what either party can say publicly about the deal — press releases, case studies, using the other party's name or logo — typically requiring advance consent before any public announcement. It protects both sides from being named or characterised in ways they didn't agree to.
In more detail
This clause matters most for parties with brand sensitivity — a company may not want a vendor publicly listing them as a client, or a customer may not want news of a partnership announced before it's ready to be public.
Common structures range from a full prohibition on any public statement without written consent, to a pre-approved standard description either party can use freely, to no restriction at all — the right level depends on how sensitive the relationship is.
Consent requirements should specify a reasonable response time — a clause requiring "prior written consent" with no timeline can effectively give one party a veto simply by never responding to the request.
A SaaS vendor wants to feature a new enterprise customer in a case study. Under the publicity clause, the vendor must obtain the customer's written approval of the specific content before publishing — the customer's name and logo cannot be used without that sign-off.
What our lawyers check
- Whether public announcements require consent, and from which party
- Whether there's a response-time commitment for consent requests
- Whether any pre-approved standard language exists that either party can use freely
- Whether the restriction survives after the contract ends
Contracts where this clause matters
Related terms
This definition is general information about commercial contracting practice, not legal advice. How a clause operates depends on the specific wording of your agreement and the law that governs it. For advice on your contract, have it reviewed by a lawyer.
All glossary terms