There are five types of briefs described in the document: co-operative, contractual, negotiated, formal, and commission. A co-operative brief involves two or more companies working together on an idea, with potential advantages of different perspectives but also possible disagreements. A contractual brief binds a media company to specific goals or rules. A negotiated brief involves competing companies that must come to agreements. A formal brief gives a company free range as long as the core message is presented. A commission brief has a company hire another to create and produce work for shared profits but potential losses.