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Plain-English summary
Coursera's terms include mandatory arbitration and a class action waiver, which significantly limit your legal rights by preventing you from suing in court, having a jury trial, or participating in group lawsuits (risk_flags-1, risk_flags-2, risk_flags-5, risk_flags-6). Coursera also obtains a broad, perpetual license to use your User Content, meaning they can use your shared materials in many ways without additional permission or compensation (risk_flags-3). The company's liability is severely limited to $20 or the past six months' fees, whichever is greater (risk_flags-4). Additionally, Coursera can change fees at its sole discretion (gotchas-1), and it does not guarantee academic credit for its offerings (gotchas-2). Subscriptions auto-renew (cancellation_renewal-1), and your course participation data may be used for education research (data_use-1).
90% confidence
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Risk Flags
4 findings
Critical issues and red flags. These are often non-negotiable for informed users.
high95% confidence
Mandatory Arbitration
You agree to resolve disputes through binding arbitration and waive your right to a jury trial.
Why it matters: You cannot sue Coursera in court and lose the right to a jury trial for disputes.
PLEASE READ THEM CAREFULLY AS THEY AFFECT YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS: (1) YOU WILL ONLY BE PERMITTED TO PURSUE DISPUTES OR CLAIMS AND SEEK RELIEF AGAINST US ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS, NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY CLASS OR REPRESENTATIVE ACTION OR PROCEEDING AND YOU WAIVE YOUR RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT OR CLASS-WIDE ARBITRATION; AND (2) YOU ARE WAIVING YOUR RIGHT TO PURSUE DISPUTES OR CLAIMS AND SEEK RELIEF IN A COURT OF LAW AND TO HAVE A JURY TRIAL.
Terms of Use, paragraph 1 · Citation strength: strong
high90% confidence
Broad License to User Content
You grant Coursera a fully-transferable, royalty-free, perpetual, sublicensable, non-exclusive, worldwide license to copy, distribute, modify, create derivative works based on, publicly perform, publicly display, and otherwise use your User Content.
Why it matters: Coursera can use your shared content (like homework, quizzes, forum posts) in almost any way it wants, forever, without paying you or asking for further permission.
To the extent that you provide User Content, you grant Coursera a fully-transferable, royalty-free, perpetual, sublicensable, non-exclusive, worldwide license to copy, distribute, modify, create derivative works based on, publicly perform, publicly display, and otherwise use the User Content.
How Coursera and Others May Use User Content, paragraph 1 · Citation strength: strong
high90% confidence
Limitations on Coursera's Liability
Coursera's aggregate liability for all claims related to the services is limited to twenty U.S. dollars ($20) or the total fees received from you for paid services during the past six months, whichever is greater.
Why it matters: If Coursera is found liable for damages, the amount you can recover is severely limited, potentially to a very small amount, even if your actual losses are much higher.
IN NO EVENT SHALL COURSERA'S AGGREGATE LIABILITY FOR ALL CLAIMS RELATED TO THE SERVICES EXCEED TWENTY U.S. DOLLARS ($20) OR THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF FEES RECEIVED BY COURSERA FROM YOU FOR THE USE OF PAID SERVICES DURING THE PAST SIX MONTHS, WHICHEVER IS GREATER.
Third Party Content, paragraph 7 · Citation strength: strong
high95% confidence
Limitations on Type of Legal Action
You and Coursera may only bring claims against each other on an individual basis, not on a class, representative, or collective basis, and waive all rights to have any dispute resolved on a class, collective, representative, or mass action basis. Only individual relief is available.
Why it matters: You cannot join with other users to pursue legal claims against Coursera, even if many users have experienced similar issues.
EACH OF US MAY BRING CLAIMS AGAINST THE OTHER ONLY ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS AND NOT ON A CLASS, REPRESENTATIVE, OR COLLECTIVE BASIS, AND THE PARTIES HEREBY WAIVE ALL RIGHTS TO HAVE ANY DISPUTE BE BROUGHT, HEARD, ADMINISTERED, RESOLVED, OR ARBITRATED ON A CLASS, COLLECTIVE, REPRESENTATIVE, OR MASS ACTION BASIS. ONLY INDIVIDUAL RELIEF IS AVAILABLE.
Binding Arbitration and Class Action Waiver, paragraph 1 · Citation strength: strong
Data Use
1 finding
How your data is collected, processed, and shared.
medium85% confidence
Use of User Data for Education Research
Records of your participation in courses may be used for education research, and you may be exposed to variations in Content Offerings in the interest of this research. Research findings will typically be reported at the aggregate level.
Why it matters: Your course participation data may be used for educational research, potentially exposing you to different course content, though your personal identity will not be publicly disclosed in research findings without your express consent.
Coursera is committed to advancing the science of learning and teaching, and records of your participation in courses may be used for education research. In the interest of this research, you may be exposed to variations in the Content Offerings. Research findings will typically be reported at the aggregate level. Your personal identity will not be publicly disclosed in any research findings without your express consent.
Third Party Content, paragraph 3 · Citation strength: strong
Cancellation & Renewal
1 finding
Terms related to account cancellation, subscription renewal, and associated refunds.
medium85% confidence
Automatic Subscription Renewal
All subscriptions will continue for the duration selected at the time of purchase and then automatically renew for periods of equal length unless canceled or discontinued by Coursera.
Why it matters: Your subscription will automatically renew at the end of each billing period unless you manually cancel it, which could lead to unintended charges.
All subscriptions will continue for the duration selected at the time of your purchase and then automatically renew for periods of equal length unless and until you cancel the subscription according to the process described below or the subscription is suspended or discontinued by Coursera.
Less obvious but important clauses that could be disadvantageous.
medium85% confidence
Right to Change Fees at Sole Discretion
Coursera reserves the right to change any fees for paid services at any time at its sole discretion, with changes effective immediately upon posting through relevant Services.
Why it matters: Coursera can change the fees for its paid services at any time without advance notice, which could lead to unexpected costs.
Fees may vary based on your location and other factors, and Coursera reserves the right to change any fees at any time at its sole discretion. Any change, update, or modification will be effective immediately upon posting through the relevant Services.
Third Party Content, paragraph 4 · Citation strength: strong
medium85% confidence
Disclaimer of Academic Credit Guarantee
Coursera does not grant academic credit for Content Offerings and does not guarantee that participation in or completion of Content Offerings will confer academic credit or be recognized by educational institutions.
Why it matters: Courses you take may not count towards academic credit or professional recognition, which could impact your educational or career goals if that was your expectation.
Unless otherwise explicitly indicated by a credit-granting institution, participation in or completion of Content Offerings does not confer any academic credit. Even if credit is awarded by one institution, there is no presumption that other institutions will accept that credit. You agree not to accept credit for completing a Content Offering unless you have earned a course certificate or other equivalent documentation of your completion of the Content Offering. Coursera, instructors, and the associated Content Providers have no obligation to have Content Offerings recognized by any educational institution or accreditation organization.
Changes to Content Offerings, paragraph 1 · Citation strength: strong
Protections
3 findings
Specific commitments and features designed to protect you.
Protection90% confidence
Refund Period for One-Time Course Purchases
For courses purchased with a one-time payment, you may receive a full refund if you cancel within 7 days of payment or before earning a certificate, whichever comes first.
Why it helps: You have a 7-day window to get a full refund for one-time course purchases, providing flexibility if you change your mind shortly after purchasing.
For courses purchased with a one-time payment, you may receive a full refund if you cancel within 7 days of payment or before earning a certificate, whichever comes first.
General Refunds, paragraph 1 · Citation strength: strong
Protection90% confidence
14-Day Refund for Coursera Plus Annual Subscriptions
For Coursera Plus Annual, Coursera offers a 14-day refund period.
Why it helps: You have a 14-day period to get a refund for annual Coursera Plus subscriptions, allowing you to try the service with less financial risk.
For Coursera Plus Annual, Coursera offers a 14-day refund period.
These Terms shall not deprive you of any mandatory consumer protections under the law of the country to which services are directed to you, where you have your habitual residence.
Why it helps: Even with these terms, you are still covered by mandatory consumer protection laws in your country of residence, offering a baseline of legal safeguards.
These Terms shall not deprive you of any mandatory consumer protections under the law of the country to which we direct Services to you, where you have your habitual residence.
Third Party Content, paragraph 10 · Citation strength: strong
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