YouTube has moved well beyond its origins as a passive distribution platform. With the rollout of Creator Partnerships at the 2026 NewFront, the platform now facilitates creator discovery, sponsorship arrangements, and advertiser engagement directly, raising significant legal questions for attorneys who represent creators, brands, and media businesses. Nyanza Shaw, Shaw Esquire, examines how this structural shift affects contracting and rights allocation, data access and bargaining power, transparency and disclosure obligations, platform accountability, and IP ownership in the evolving creator economy. Attendees will leave with a sharper understanding of how to advise clients navigating commercial relationships on and around the platform