Github Terms Github Terms Of Service (GitHub)
The GitHub Terms of Service is the master agreement governing use of GitHub.com—including account requirements, content ownership and licenses, acceptable use, payment/cancellation, and liability limits. It’s the official, legally binding policy published by GitHub, making it the authoritative source for users’ rights and obligations on the platform.
[company name] Terms of Service
Thank you for using [company name]! We're happy you're here. Please read this Terms of Service agreement carefully before accessing or using [company name]. Because it is such an important contract between us and our users, we have tried to make it as clear as possible. For your convenience, we have presented these terms in a short non-binding summary followed by the full legal terms.
Summary
Section | What can you find there? |
Definitions | Some basic terms, defined in a way that will help you understand this agreement. Refer back up to this section for clarification. |
Account Terms | These are the basic requirements of having an Account on [company name]. |
Acceptable Use | These are the basic rules you must follow when using your [company name] Account. |
User-Generated Content | You own the content you post on [company name]. However, you have some responsibilities regarding it, and we ask you to grant us some rights so we can provide services to you. |
Private Repositories | This section talks about how [company name] will treat content you post in private repositories. |
Copyright & DMCA Policy | This section talks about how [company name] will respond if you believe someone is infringing your copyrights on [company name]. |
Intellectual Property Notice | This describes [company name]'s rights in the website and service. |
API Terms | These are the rules for using [company name]'s APIs, whether you are using the API for development or data collection. |
Additional Product Terms | We have a few specific rules for [company name]'s features and products. |
Beta Previews | These are some of the additional terms that apply to [company name]'s features that are still in development. |
Payment | You are responsible for payment. We are responsible for billing you accurately. |
Cancellation and Termination | You may cancel this agreement and close your Account at any time. |
Communications with [company name] | We only use email and other electronic means to stay in touch with our users. We do not provide phone support. |
Disclaimer of Warranties | We provide our service as is, and we make no promises or guarantees about this service. Please read this section carefully; you should understand what to expect. |
Limitation of Liability | We will not be liable for damages or losses arising from your use or inability to use the service or otherwise arising under this agreement. Please read this section carefully; it limits our obligations to you. |
Release and Indemnification | You are fully responsible for your use of the service. |
Changes to these Terms of Service | We may modify this agreement, but we will give you 30 days' notice of material changes. |
Miscellaneous | Please see this section for legal details including our choice of law. |
The [company name] Terms of Service
Effective date: [effective date]
Definitions
This is a preview. The full template is free on GitLaw.
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About this template
What is this template?
This is a platform terms of service specifically for developer tools and code hosting. It contains detailed provisions for repository 'forking' and 'inbound=outbound' licensing that are absent from general SaaS terms. It is not a Master Service Agreement (MSA) for enterprise procurement.
When should you use it?
Use this when launching a collaborative software platform where users host content and interact via APIs. Use a Software License Agreement instead if the software is being installed locally on a customer's own hardware.
What's inside
| Clause | Name | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Section B.3 | Account Requirements | Restricts account creation to humans aged 13 or older and prohibits users from maintaining more than one free account. |
| Section D.4 | License Grant to Us | Grants the provider rights to host, archive, parse, and display User-Generated Content to provide and improve the service. |
| Section E.2 | Confidentiality of Private Repositories | Obliges the provider to protect private repository contents with a reasonable degree of care and treat them as confidential. |
| Section H | API Terms | Prohibits the use of tokens to exceed rate limitations and bans downloading data for spamming recruiters or headhunters. |
| Section K.3 | Payment Based on Plan | Mandates advance billing on a monthly or yearly basis and expressly declares all payments to be non-refundable. |
| Section L.1 | Account Cancellation | Requires the User to cancel via the global navigation settings, explicitly stating that email or phone requests are invalid. |
| Section R.1 | Governing Law | Submits the agreement to federal laws of the United States and the laws of the State of California. |
Who it's for
- a software hosting company managing public and private code repositories
- a platform operator providing API access for third-party developers
- a service provider requiring a standard DMCA takedown procedure
- an entity charging subscription fees for tiered software-as-a-service features
How long it runs and how it's signed
Law it's drafted under
United States note
This version is drafted for US law generally. Contract, employment and consumer rules vary by state — for example on non-competes and at-will employment. Tell GitLaw which state applies and it adjusts the draft.
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