Risk Score
0 = very fair · 100 = very risky
Summary
This is Zoom's Terms of Service (effective August 11, 2023) governing use of Zoom's video conferencing and communication services. The agreement is heavily weighted in Zoom's favor, reserving broad discretionary rights to terminate accounts, modify terms, change pricing, and suspend services. Users receive only a limited, revocable license to the software — not ownership — and grant Zoom a perpetual, worldwide license to their content. The document includes mandatory arbitration and class action waivers, non-refundable charges, and auto-renewal provisions that require active cancellation to avoid.
Flagged Clauses
You do not own Zoom or any of its software. Access can be revoked at any time at Zoom's sole discretion. You are essentially renting access, not buying anything.
“Section 3.1 states Zoom grants a 'limited, revocable, non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-assignable, non-sublicensable, and royalty-free license to use the Software.' Section 3.3 explicitly states: 'the Services are provided to you on a subscription basis, and the Software and Documentation is provided to you under a limited license, and neither has been sold to you.'”
If you have a dispute with Zoom, you give up your right to sue them in court or join a class-action lawsuit. Disputes are handled through private arbitration, which typically favors the company and limits your ability to recover damages.
“The preamble explicitly warns: 'in Section 27, that you and Zoom will arbitrate certain claims instead of going to court and that you will not bring class-action claims against Zoom.'”
Zoom gets a permanent, worldwide license to your content for their defined 'Permitted Uses.' Additionally, all usage/telemetry data Zoom generates from your use of the service belongs entirely to Zoom, not you.
“Section 10.2 states: 'You grant Zoom a perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sublicensable, and transferable license and all other rights required or necessary for the Permitted Uses' over Customer Content. Section 10.5 states Zoom 'owns all rights, title, and interest in and to Service Generated Data.'”
Zoom can share your content with third-party contractors and subprocessors. While it states this must comply with applicable law, there is no specific list of who these parties are within these Terms.
“Section 10.3 states Zoom 'may use consultants, contractors, service providers, subprocessors, and other Zoom-authorized third parties in connection with the delivery of the Services or Software' and that Customer Content may be shared with these parties.”
Zoom explicitly commits not to use your meeting content (audio, video, chat, etc.) to train AI models. This is a notable user protection.
“Section 10.2 explicitly states: 'Zoom does not use any of your audio, video, chat, screen sharing, attachments or other communications-like Customer Content (such as poll results, whiteboard and reactions) to train Zoom or third-party artificial intelligence models.'”
Subscriptions automatically renew and all charges for the current subscription period are non-refundable. If you miss the cancellation window, you are locked in for the full renewal term with no refund.
“The preamble warns about 'recurring subscription Charges and automatic renewals' in Sections 12 and 14. Section 12.2 states 'all payments are non-cancelable for the Initial Subscription Term or the then-current Renewal Term...and are final and non-refundable.'”
Once you pay for a subscription period, you generally cannot get a refund, even if you stop using the service. Cancellation only takes effect at the end of the current billing period.
“Section 12.2 states payments are 'non-cancelable for the Initial Subscription Term or the then-current Renewal Term' and 'final and non-refundable, unless otherwise agreed to by Zoom, required by Law, or set forth in your Order Form.'”
Zoom can automatically update and charge your payment method details obtained from your bank even if your original card was declined, and will attempt to charge backup payment methods without additional notice.
“Section 12.1 states Zoom may 'use any updated Payment Method information provided by your issuing bank or the applicable payment network and to charge your current primary Payment Method...even if such Payment Method is declined.' Zoom may also charge a backup payment method automatically.”
If you fail to pay, Zoom can charge up to 1.5% monthly interest and make you pay all their legal and collection costs to recover the debt.
“Section 12.5 states Zoom may collect 'interest at the lesser of 1.5% per month or the highest amount permitted by Law on any Charges not paid when due' and you are responsible for Zoom's 'collection fees, court costs, and attorneys fees.'”
Zoom can change the terms of service and pricing. For pricing, you get 30 days notice, but if you don't actively cancel, you are deemed to have accepted the new prices. Terms changes could take effect with similarly limited recourse.
“The preamble references Section 15, stating 'Zoom may make modifications, deletions, and additions to these Terms of Service.' Section 12.3 also allows Zoom to change pricing with only 30 days notice, after which continued use constitutes acceptance.”
Zoom can terminate or suspend your account immediately with no prior notice for non-payment after 5 days, or for other violations at their sole discretion. There is no described appeals process.
“Section 12.7 states Zoom may 'terminate, suspend, or disconnect your Services immediately and without prior notice' if payment fails for 5 days. Section 4.4 states Zoom may take actions 'in its sole discretion, including...suspending or disconnecting the Services or Software...terminating accounts.'”
Zoom can terminate your account without warning if they determine you are underage or ineligible, with no explicit provision for recovering data or content before termination.
“Section 11.1 states: 'Your access may be terminated without warning if it comes to our attention that you are under the legal age to enter into this Agreement or are otherwise ineligible.'”
Zoom broadly disclaims liability for content, data loss, or damages arising from service use. Users also waive the right to recover certain categories of damages against Zoom in Section 26.
“Section 4.3 states: 'Under no circumstances will Zoom be liable in any way for any data or other content viewed while using the Services, including any errors or omissions in any such data or other content, or any loss or damage of any kind.' The preamble also references Section 26 where users 'release Zoom from, and waive your right to recover from Zoom, certain damages.'”
You technically retain ownership of your content, but the license you grant Zoom over it is permanent and very broad — it doesn't expire even if you cancel your account.
“Section 10.4 states: 'You retain all ownership rights in your Customer Content subject to any license or other rights granted herein.' However, the license granted to Zoom is 'perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sublicensable, and transferable.'”
Zoom can delete your data and content without advance notice if they determine it violates their terms or any law, with no described appeals or recovery process.
“Section 10.4 states Zoom 'may delete any Customer Content, at any time without notice to you if Zoom becomes aware that it violates any provision of this Agreement or any applicable Laws.'”
Missing Protections
- No explicit data retention or deletion policy upon account termination — unclear what happens to Customer Content after the account closes
- No defined appeals or reinstatement process for account terminations or suspensions
- No explicit cap on how much terms can be changed and whether material changes require affirmative re-consent
- No explicit provision for data portability — how users can export their content before termination
- No Service Level Agreement (SLA) or uptime guarantees mentioned in the provided text
- No explicit list of authorized third-party subprocessors who may access Customer Content
- Section 27 (arbitration) is referenced but not included in the provided text — full arbitration terms not reviewable
- Section 15 (terms modification process) is referenced but not included — modification notice standards not reviewable
- No explicit description of what happens to prepaid subscription fees upon Zoom-initiated termination
Fair Terms
- Explicit commitment that Zoom does not use audio, video, chat, or other communications-like content to train AI models (Section 10.2)
- Zoom commits to notifying users of unauthorized access to or disclosure of Customer Content (Section 10.3)
- 30-day advance notice required before pricing changes take effect, with option to cancel (Section 12.3)
- Users retain ownership of their Customer Content, even though a broad license is granted to Zoom (Section 10.4)
- Cooling-off/withdrawal period acknowledged for jurisdictions where legally required (Section 12.9)
- Zoom acknowledges obligation to comply with applicable law regarding data sharing by authorized third parties (Section 10.3)
- VAT invoices provided where required by law (Section 13.2)
Document information only — not legal advice.