to read this ToS
Anthropic's fine print is longer than you think.
📺Longer than an entire sitcom episode.
The 5 things you actually need to know
⏱️ Saved you 21 min 37s- 1
They can report your inputs/outputs to law enforcement, no questions asked.
- 2
Your data might be used to train their AI models, even if you opt out, for safety reviews.
- 3
If you cancel a subscription, you won't get a refund for the time you already paid for.
- 4
They can change the terms or shut down services with little to no notice.
- 5
You're responsible if your use of the app breaks laws or hurts someone else.
Generated by AI from the actual contract — but for the lawyer-level breakdown, scroll down 👇
AI training
- Severity 5
"We may use Materials to provide, maintain, and improve the Services and to develop other products and services, including training our models, unless you opt out of training through your account settings. Even if you opt out, we will use Materials for model training when: (1) you provide Feedback to us regarding any Materials, or (2) your Materials are flagged for safety review to improve our ability to detect harmful content, enforce our policies, or advance our safety research."
Anthropic can use your content to train their AI models, even if you opt out, unless you specifically disable training in your settings or the content is flagged for safety review.
Your private data could be used to train models that are then used by others, potentially exposing sensitive information.
⚖️Matches The New York Times Co. v. OpenAI & Microsoft (2023)
Auto-renewal
- Severity 3
"To avoid renewal and charges for the next Renewal Term, cancel your subscription at least 24 hours before the last day of the Initial Term or any Renewal Term."
Anthropic automatically renews your subscription and will charge your payment method unless you cancel at least 24 hours before the renewal date.
You will be automatically charged for another subscription term if you miss the cancellation deadline.
⚖️Matches FTC v. Amazon (Iliad Flow / Prime Enrollment) (2023) - Severity 3
"If you sign up for a paid Subscription, we or the App Distributor will automatically charge your Payment Method on each agreed-upon periodic renewal date until you cancel. If your Subscription has a minimum term (the “Initial Term”), we will let you know during the order process. Your Subscription will last for the Initial Term and will automatically renew, and your Payment Method will be charged, at the end of the Initial Term for an additional term equal in duration to the Initial Term and will continue to renew and incur charges for additional terms equal in duration to the Initial Term (each such additional term, a “Renewal Term”) until you cancel."
Anthropic automatically renews your subscription at the end of your term for the same duration, charging your payment method unless you cancel at least 24 hours beforehand.
You could be charged for another term if you forget to cancel, even if you no longer need the service.
⚖️Matches FTC v. Amazon (Iliad Flow / Prime Enrollment) (2023)
Price hikes
- Severity 3
"We have the right to make changes to the fees applicable to your Subscription from time to time, although we will not make any change to the fees applicable to your Subscription during the current Initial Term or Renewal Term, as applicable. If these changes result in an increase in the fees payable by you, we will inform you at least 30 days in advance of the change. You agree to the increase in fees payable by you unless you cancel the Subscription, as described in the paragraph (Subscription cancellation) immediately above, before the Renewal Term to which the increase in fees will apply."
Anthropic can increase your subscription fees, but they will notify you at least 30 days in advance before the next renewal term.
You might pay more for the service if you don't cancel before the renewal date after receiving a price increase notice.
⚖️Matches Netflix Price Hike Class Action (2023)
Data residency
- Severity 4
"We may comply with governmental, court, and law enforcement requests or requirements relating to provision or use of the Services, or to information provided to or collected under our Terms. We reserve the right, at our sole discretion, to report information from or about you, including but not limited to Inputs, Outputs, or Actions to law enforcement."
Anthropic may share your inputs, outputs, or actions with law enforcement if they receive a request or deem it necessary.
Your conversations and data could be handed over to authorities without your direct knowledge or consent.
Termination friction
- Severity 3
"If we terminate your access to the Services due to a violation of these Terms and you have a Subscription, you will not be entitled to any refund. In addition, if you have a Subscription, we may terminate the Subscription at any time for any other reason. If we exercise this right and you purchased the subscription via our website, we will refund you, on a pro rata basis, the fees you paid for the remaining portion of your Subscription after termination."
If Anthropic terminates your subscription for violating terms, you won't get a refund, but if they terminate for other reasons, you'll get a pro-rata refund for the unused portion.
You could lose all your money if Anthropic bans you for breaking rules, even if you have unused time left on your subscription.
⚖️Matches Adobe Early Termination Fee Class Action (2024) - Severity 3
"Upon termination of these Terms, a Subscription, or your access to the Services, we may at our option delete any Materials or other data associated with your Account."
Anthropic may delete all your data and content when your subscription or account is terminated.
You will lose access to all your work and data if your account is terminated or if Anthropic decides to delete it.
⚖️Matches Bungie / Destiny 2 Account Termination Litigation (2023)
Liability caps
- Severity 5
"TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMISSIBLE UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, IN NO EVENT WILL WE, OUR PROVIDERS, OR OUR OR THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES, INVESTORS, DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, SUCCESSORS OR ASSIGNS (COLLECTIVELY, THE “ANTHROPIC PARTIES”), BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR OTHER DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATED TO THE SERVICES, THE MATERIALS, THE ACTIONS, OR THESE TERMS, WHETHER BASED IN CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), STRICT LIABILITY, OR OTHER THEORY, EVEN IF ANY ANTHROPIC PARTIES HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF DAMAGES, AND EVEN IF THE DAMAGES ARE FORESEEABLE."
Anthropic and its providers will not be liable for any damages, including indirect or consequential losses, even if they were aware of the possibility.
You cannot recover any significant financial losses if Anthropic's service causes you harm or damages.
⚖️Matches Yahoo! Customer Data Security Breach Settlement — settled for $118M (2019) - Severity 4
"YOUR USE OF THE SERVICES, MATERIALS, AND ACTIONS IS SOLELY AT YOUR OWN RISK. THE SERVICES, OUTPUTS, AND ACTIONS ARE PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” BASIS AND, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMISSIBLE UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, ARE PROVIDED WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, OR STATUTORY. WE AND OUR PROVIDERS EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, MERCHANTABILITY, ACCURACY, AVAILABILITY, RELIABILITY, SECURITY, PRIVACY, COMPATIBILITY, NON-INFRINGEMENT, AND ANY WARRANTY IMPLIED BY COURSE OF DEALING, COURSE OF PERFORMANCE, OR TRADE USAGE."
Anthropic provides its services without any guarantees, disclaiming all warranties like merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.
You have no legal recourse if the service fails or has defects, as Anthropic explicitly disclaims responsibility.
⚖️Matches Capital One Data Breach Class Action — settled for $190M (2022) - Severity 4
"TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMISSIBLE UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, THE ANTHROPIC PARTIES’ TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ALL DAMAGES, LOSSES AND CAUSES OF ACTION ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATED TO THE SERVICES, THE MATERIALS, THE ACTIONS, OR THESE TERMS, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE) OR OTHERWISE, WILL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF THE AMOUNT YOU PAID TO US FOR ACCESS TO OR USE OF THE SERVICES (IF ANY) IN THE SIX MONTHS PRECEDING THE DATE SUCH DAMAGES, LOSSES, AND CAUSES OF ACTION FIRST AROSE, AND $100. THE FOREGOING LIMITATIONS ARE ESSENTIAL TO THESE TERMS, AND WE WOULD NOT OFFER THE SERVICES TO YOU UNDER THESE TERMS WITHOUT THESE LIMITATIONS."
Anthropic's total liability to you is capped at the greater of the amount you paid in the last six months or $100.
If Anthropic causes you significant financial loss, your maximum recovery is capped at a very low amount.
⚖️Matches Yahoo! Customer Data Security Breach Settlement — settled for $118M (2019)
Indemnification
- Severity 4
"YOU AGREE TO INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS THE ANTHROPIC PARTIES FROM AND AGAINST ANY AND ALL LIABILITIES, CLAIMS, DAMAGES, EXPENSES (INCLUDING REASONABLE ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS), AND OTHER LOSSES ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO YOUR BREACH OR ALLEGED BREACH OF THESE TERMS; YOUR ACCESS TO, USE OF, OR ALLEGED USE OF THE SERVICES, THE MATERIALS, OR THE ACTIONS; YOUR FEEDBACK; ANY PRODUCTS OR SERVICES THAT YOU DEVELOP, OFFER, OR OTHERWISE MAKE AVAILABLE USING OR OTHERWISE IN CONNECTION WITH THE SERVICES; YOUR VIOLATION OF APPLICABLE LAW OR ANY THIRD-PARTY RIGHT; AND ANY ACTUAL OR ALLEGED FRAUD, INTENTIONAL MISCONDUCT, GROSS NEGLIGENCE, OR CRIMINAL ACTS COMMITTED BY YOU OR YOUR EMPLOYEES OR AGENTS."
You must defend and cover Anthropic for any claims or losses arising from your breach of terms, misuse of services, or illegal actions.
You could be responsible for paying Anthropic's legal fees and damages if they face a lawsuit due to your actions.
⚖️Matches T-Mobile Data Breach Settlement — settled for $350M (2022)
Silent term changes
- Severity 4
"We may revise and update these Terms at our discretion. Some examples of times, we may update these Terms include (1) to reflect changes in our Services, like when we add or remove features or services, or update our pricing, (2) for security or legal reasons, or (3) to promote safety or prevent abuse. If you continue to access the Services after we post the updated Terms on Anthropic’s website or otherwise give you notice of Terms changes, then you agree to the updated Terms. If you do not accept the updated Terms, you must stop using our Services."
Anthropic can change the terms of service at their discretion, and continuing to use the service means you agree to the new terms.
You may be bound by new rules you haven't agreed to simply by continuing to use the service.
⚖️Matches Italian DPA (Garante) v. WhatsApp — settled for $6M (2022) - Severity 4
"Unless we specifically agree otherwise in a separate agreement with you, we reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue the Services or your access to the Services, in whole or in part, at any time without notice to you. Although we will strive to provide you with reasonable advance notice if we stop offering a Service, there may be urgent situations—such as preventing abuse, responding to legal requirements, or addressing security and operability issues—where providing advance notice is not feasible. We will not be liable for any change to or any suspension or discontinuation of the Services or your access to them."
Anthropic can change, suspend, or stop offering the services at any time without notice, and they won't be liable for any resulting issues.
The service you rely on could be altered or removed with no warning, disrupting your workflow.
⚖️Matches X Corp. Verified User Class Action (2024) - Severity 4
"We may offer manual or automatic updates to our software including our apps (“Anthropic Software”), without advance notice to you."
Anthropic may update their software automatically without advance notice.
Your software could be updated in the background, potentially changing functionality or introducing bugs without your consent.
- Severity 4
"We reserve the right, at our sole discretion, to report information from or about you, including but not limited to Inputs, Outputs, or Actions to law enforcement."
Anthropic reserves the right to report your information, including inputs and outputs, to law enforcement at their sole discretion.
Your data can be shared with law enforcement without your explicit consent or knowledge.
- Severity 4
"We may also terminate your Account if you have been inactive for over a year and you do not have a paid Account. If we terminate your Account due to inactivity, we will provide you with notice before doing so."
Anthropic may terminate your account for inactivity if you haven't used it for over a year and don't have a paid account, after giving you notice.
Your account and data could be deleted if you stop using the service for an extended period.
⚖️Matches X Corp. Verified User Class Action (2024)
Better alternatives
Higher-rated vendors in AI / ML that may be safer than Anthropic.
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Anthropic · grade F
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