This article, written for a special issue of the Journal of Management Philosophy, appears to be no longer available. It attempts to extend the analysis in previous articles by enquiring into the ‘product’ side of the creative industries – what is the use-value that they create? I drew the conclusion, in brief, that they produce distinction as a use in its own right, or to be precise, supply commodities with a dual use: their actual use as a cup, an article of clothing, a text, and so on, and the specific form of this use (a handmade cup, a fashion item, a printed work) which is valued not just for this use as such, but for its distinctive form.