Adam Frankel
General Counsel · Technology & AI
15+ years as General Counsel to technology, cloud & AI companies
Other Site Policies Github Username Policy (GitHub)
Open Legal LibraryUpdated 23 Oct 2025
The GitHub Username Policy sets the rules for selecting and using GitHub account names, clarifying that usernames are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis and must be used actively, with prohibitions on squatting or trading names. It is an official GitHub policy, backed by trademark protections and enforcement measures, making it a trusted standard for account identity management.
[company name] Username Policy
[company name] account names are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and are intended for immediate and active use.
What if the username I want is already taken?
Keep in mind that not all activity on [company name] is publicly visible; accounts with no visible activity may be in active use.
If the username you want has already been claimed, consider other names or unique variations. Using a number, hyphen, or an alternative spelling might help you identify a desirable username that's still available.
Trademark Policy
If you believe someone's account is violating your trademark rights, you can find more information about making a trademark complaint on our Trademark Policy page [link to policy page].
Name Squatting Policy
[company name] prohibits account name squatting, and account names may not be reserved or inactively held for future use. Accounts violating this name squatting policy may be removed or renamed without notice. Attempts to sell, buy, or solicit other forms of payment in exchange for account names are prohibited and may result in permanent account suspension.
5.0 out of 5 on Google
Read reviewsAs seen in
About this template
What is this template?
This policy is a set of rules for account name allocation and a prohibition on inactive account holding. It contains a specific ban on soliciting payment for usernames and a clause allowing the platform to rename accounts without notice. It is not a full terms of service agreement.
When should you use it?
Use this policy when setting up a user-facing platform to prevent users from hoarding names they do not intend to use. Use a Trademark Policy instead if the primary focus is handling intellectual property disputes.
What's inside
| Clause | Name | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Username Policy | Account Availability | Establishes that account names are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis for immediate and active use. |
| Trademark Policy | Trademark Policy | Directs users to a separate policy page for filing complaints regarding account names that violate trademark rights. |
| Name Squatting Policy | Name Squatting Policy | Prohibits reserving or inactively holding account names and bans the sale, purchase, or solicitation of payment for usernames. |
Who it's for
- an online platform provider establishing rules for user account registration and name retention
- a website administrator prohibiting the commercial sale of account usernames between users
- a service provider managing trademark disputes related to user-claimed identifiers
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.
Categories
Jurisdiction
United States of America
Document info
HTML document. Document created on Mon Oct 6th, 2025. Last updated on Thu Oct 23rd, 2025.
This document is public
Licensed under CC BY 4.0 (Attribution).
Come to agreements faster
Write, review, negotiate, and manage legal contracts
Related documents
US
Acceptable Use Policies Github Threats Of Violence And Gratuitously Violent Content (GitHub)
This policy prohibits users from using a platform to organize or promote acts of violence, including threats of physical harm, sexual violence, or death. It restricts the posting of graphic depictions of violence against humans or animals while providing exceptions for educational, documentary, or historical purposes provided clear warnings are included.
Updated 13 Aug 2026
US
Acceptable Use Policies Github Acceptable Use Policies (GitHub)
This policy defines permitted and prohibited behavior for users of a digital platform or hosting service. It establishes rules regarding intellectual property, user safety, anti-spam measures, and bandwidth limitations to maintain platform integrity.
Updated 13 Aug 2026
US
Acceptable Use Policies Github Bullying And Harassment (GitHub)
This acceptable use policy establishes standards for user conduct on a digital platform to prevent bullying and harassment. It lists specific prohibited actions, such as targeted personal attacks, sexual comments, and the creation of alternative accounts to evade moderation.
Updated 13 Aug 2026
FeaturedUS
Acceptable Use Policy by Mozilla
This policy defines prohibited activities for users of a company's digital services and products. It establishes clear boundaries against illegal acts, harassment, malware distribution, and intellectual property infringement while reserving the right to suspend users who violate these terms.
Updated 13 Aug 2026
California (US)
Github Open Source Applications Terms And Conditions (GitHub)
These terms govern the use of executable code for open source applications provided by a software company. They clarify that while source code is under separate open source licenses, the executable version is subject to these specific conditions, including trademark restrictions on logos and auto-update service limitations.
Updated 13 Aug 2026
Frequently asked questions
A template isn't binding on its own - like any contract, it becomes binding once it's properly completed and signed. Templates in our curated library are professionally drafted for US or UK law; review any template before you sign it.
Yes. Chat with GitLaw to edit any section, or make changes directly in the editor.
Yes, read about team plans here.
Describe what you need in the chat and GitLaw will draft it for you.
Templates in our curated library are professionally drafted for US or UK law. The wider library comes from the GitLaw community and public sources - a solid starting point, but check any template fits your situation before you rely on it.
Mostly US and UK law. Some templates use general commercial terms that work across jurisdictions, and many note which law they're written for.
It depends on the situation. Templates work well for routine business agreements. For anything involving significant money, complex IP, employment, or areas you're unsure about, it's worth getting professional advice before you sign. GitLaw provides templates and tools, not legal advice.
Open any template in GitLaw and describe the change you want in the chat — 'make clause 4 mutual' or 'add a 30-day notice period', for example. GitLaw drafts the revised language and shows it as a suggested edit. You accept, reject, or keep editing from there.
Yes. Upload a Word, PDF, or Markdown file and GitLaw will open it in the editor. You can review, edit, or chat with GitLaw about it the same way you would with any template from the library.
Trusted by 5,000+ businesses
From template to signed, in one place
Every template opens in an editor with an AI agent alongside it.
1
Open
Pick a template and open it. Nothing to download, and no credit card to start.
Free to open
2
Edit with AI
Describe your situation in chat and the agent adapts the wording, clause by clause.
Tracked changes you can review
3
Send and sign
Share it for negotiation, then collect signatures without leaving GitLaw.
eSign included
Built for your legal work,
with practicing lawyers
Trained on 5,500+ clauses and specialist areas of law. Built with a standards committee of independent lawyers.
Adam Frankel
General Counsel · Technology & AI
15+ years as General Counsel to technology, cloud & AI companies
Juliana Calil
Principal Counsel · Technology & Entertainment
20+ years in-house at Google, Intel, Disney and Looker
Adam Wardel
General Counsel, Data Privacy Officer & AI Advisor
12+ years leading legal & privacy for SaaS and AI companies
John Hoffman
Associate Director, Corporate Counsel · Life Sciences & Technology
20+ years in corporate counsel, incl. senior counsel at Certara
Richard Nohe
General Counsel · Telecom, Cloud & Data Centers
20+ years in-house, regional General Counsel at BT across 30+ countries
Joe Al-Khayat
General Counsel · Technology & High-Growth Companies
Cross-jurisdictional M&A and SaaS contracting across the UK, US & Australia
Joshua Woo
Technology, AI & Privacy Counsel · APAC
Former Goldman Sachs Executive Director for AI, cybersecurity & privacy in APAC
Sahil Verma
International Business & Investment Lawyer
13+ years in business law, investment law & dispute resolution
Matthew Willis
CRO & General Counsel · SaaS
Former President of the ACC's 2,200-attorney Chicago Chapter · JD + Kellogg MBA
Mayowa Ogunrinola
Legal Consultant · Fintech & AI Compliance
Regulatory strategy, AI governance & data protection for fintech and AI
Steven J. Shanker
Partner and Chair of Corporate and Employment Law
25+ years as a corporate & employment attorney in New York
As seen in
Ready to get started?
No sales calls, no credit card. Just chat with GitLaw.
GitLaw provides templates and tools, not legal advice. Templates are a starting point, not a substitute for advice on your situation - for anything significant, speak to a qualified lawyer.