Snapshot of the source text at fetch time, not a live mirror of the policy page.
Plain-English summary
Coursera's terms require mandatory arbitration, waiving your right to go to court or participate in class actions (risk_flags-0001). They grant Coursera a broad, perpetual, royalty-free license to your content (risk_flags-0002) and allow them to terminate your service for any reason without liability (risk_flags-0003). Your potential financial recovery from Coursera is severely limited (risk_flags-0004), and services are provided without warranty (risk_flags-0005).
90% confidence
Ask Verbaterm
Follow up on findings with grounded answers from this review. Not legal advice.
Risk Flags
Critical issues that may result in material harm or loss, such as weakened legal rights, loss of content, or account termination without recourse. These items are often non-negotiable or difficult to reverse.
high95% confidence
Mandatory arbitration and class action waiver
You are required to resolve disputes through binding arbitration and waive your right to participate in class action lawsuits, which affects your legal rights to pursue disputes or claims in a court of law and to have a jury trial.
Why it matters: You waive your right to pursue disputes or claims and seek relief in a court of law and to have a jury trial, and you will only be permitted to pursue disputes or claims on an individual basis, not as a class member in any class or representative action.
THESE TERMS INCLUDE AN ARBITRATION AGREEMENT, JURY TRIAL WAIVER AND CLASS ACTION WAIVER THAT APPLY TO ALL CLAIMS BROUGHT AGAINST COURSERA. 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.
Title: Terms of Use | Coursera, paragraph 4 · Citation strength: strong
high95% confidence
Broad license to user content
You grant Coursera a fully-transferable, royalty-free, perpetual, sublicensable, non-exclusive, worldwide license to use your User Content, including copying, distributing, modifying, creating derivative works, publicly performing, and publicly displaying it.
Why it matters: Coursera obtains extensive rights to use any content you submit, such as homework, quizzes, exams, projects, and forum posts, without restriction, compensation, or time limit, and can allow Content Providers to use it with other learners.
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. This license includes granting Coursera the right to authorize Content Providers to use User Content with their registered students, on-campus learners, or other learners independent of the Services.
How Coursera and Others May Use User Content, paragraph 1 · Citation strength: strong
high90% confidence
Service termination for any reason without liability
Coursera may terminate your use of any Service for any reason and will not be liable to you for such action.
Why it matters: Your access to the service can be terminated at any time without Coursera incurring any liability to you, potentially disrupting your learning or access to content.
Accordingly, Coursera may terminate your use of any Service for any reason. If your use of a paid Service is terminated, a refund may be available under our Refund Policy. We may not be able to deliver the Services to certain regions or countries for various reasons, including due to applicable export control requirements or internet access limitations and restrictions from governments, or for commercial or reputational reasons. None of Coursera, its Content Providers and instructors, its contributors, sponsors, and other business partners, and their employees, contractors, and other agents (the "Coursera Parties") shall have any liability to you for any such action.
Coursera's aggregate liability for all claims related to the Services is capped at $20 or the total fees you paid in the past six months, whichever is greater, and they are not liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or loss of profits, revenues, data, or goodwill.
Why it matters: Your ability to recover damages from Coursera is severely limited, even if losses are due to their actions, potentially leaving you responsible for significant losses.
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, COURSERA SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS OR REVENUES, WHETHER INCURRED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, OR ANY LOSS OF DATA, USE, GOODWILL, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES, RESULTING FROM: (A) YOUR ACCESS TO OR USE OF OR INABILITY TO ACCESS OR USE THE SERVICES; (B) ANY CONDUCT OR CONTENT OF ANY PARTY OTHER THAN THE APPLICABLE COURSERA PARTY, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY DEFAMATORY, OFFENSIVE, OR ILLEGAL CONDUCT; OR (C) UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS, USE, OR ALTERATION OF YOUR CONTENT OR INFORMATION.
Limitation of Liability, paragraph 1 · Citation strength: strong
medium90% confidence
Waiver of warranty for services
The services and all included content, including those that use artificial intelligence, are provided on an "AS IS" basis without any warranty, express or implied.
Why it matters: You cannot rely on warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement, meaning Coursera disclaims liability for potential flaws or unsuitability of the services.
SOME OF COURSERA’S SERVICES UTILIZE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (“AI”). CONSISTENT WITH THE FOREGOING, SERVICES THAT USE AI ARE PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS” BASIS WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. THE COURSERA PARTIES SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIM ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES AND CONDITIONS OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT, AND ANY WARRANTIES ARISING OUT OF COURSE OF DEALING OR USAGE OF TRADE. THE COURSERA PARTIES FURTHER DISCLAIM ANY AND ALL LIABILITY RELATED TO YOUR ACCESS OR USE OF THE SERVICES OR ANY RELATED CONTENT.
Coursera reserves the right to remove or modify your User Content for any reason, including if they believe it violates their Terms or policies.
Why it matters: Content you share, such as homework or forum posts, can be removed or altered by Coursera at their discretion.
We reserve the right to remove or modify User Content for any reason, including User Content that we believe violates these Terms or other policies including our [Acceptable Use Policy](https://www.coursera.org/about/terms#acceptable-use-policy) and [Code of Conduct](https://learner.coursera.help/hc/en-us/articles/208280036-Coursera-Code-of-Conduct).
How Coursera and Others May Use User Content, paragraph 2 · Citation strength: strong
medium90% confidence
Limited timeframe to file legal actions
Any cause of action related to the services must commence within one year after it arises, otherwise, it is permanently barred.
Why it matters: You lose your right to pursue legal claims related to the services if you do not initiate action within one year.
YOU AGREE THAT ANY CAUSE OF ACTION RELATED TO THE SERVICES MUST COMMENCE WITHIN ONE (1) YEAR AFTER THE CAUSE OF ACTION ACCRUES. OTHERWISE, SUCH CAUSE OF ACTION IS PERMANENTLY BARRED.
Limitation of Liability, paragraph 3 · Citation strength: strong
low90% confidence
No guarantee of third-party content safety or appropriateness
Coursera cannot guarantee that third-party content, or links to third-party websites and services, will be free of objectionable material, malware, or other contaminants.
Why it matters: You access third-party content and links on the platform at your own risk, with no assurances from Coursera regarding its safety or appropriateness.
Coursera cannot guarantee that such third party content, in the Services or elsewhere, will be free of material you may find objectionable or otherwise inappropriate or of malware or other contaminants that may harm your computer, mobile device, or any files therein. Coursera disclaims any responsibility or liability related to your access or use of, or inability to access or use, such third party content.
Third Party Content, paragraph 1 · Citation strength: strong
Data Use
Policies about how your data is collected, used, and shared. These include details about data sales, targeted advertising, and data retention.
low90% confidence
Use of participation records 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 for this research.
Why it matters: Your course participation records might be used by Coursera for research purposes, and your learning experience may be altered as part of research variations.
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.
Terms related to account cancellation, service changes, and subscription renewals. This includes refund eligibility and procedures for terminating your agreement.
medium90% confidence
Modification of content offerings
Coursera reserves the right to cancel, interrupt, reschedule, or modify any Content Offerings, or change the point value or weight of any assignment, quiz, or other assessment.
Why it matters: The courses or content you are enrolled in can be changed or canceled at Coursera's discretion, which may affect your learning experience or progress.
Coursera reserves the right to cancel, interrupt, reschedule, or modify any Content Offerings, or change the point value or weight of any assignment, quiz, or other assessment, either solely, or in accordance with Content Provider instructions.
Changes to Content Offerings, paragraph 1 · Citation strength: strong
low85% confidence
Changes to fees for paid services
Coursera reserves the right to change any fees for paid services at any time at its sole discretion, with immediate effect upon posting.
Why it matters: The fees for paid services may change without direct notification, and you will need to check the relevant services for updates.
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.
Paid Services from Coursera, paragraph 1 · Citation strength: strong
Gotchas
Less critical but important terms that may be overlooked, such as limitations on service, unexpected responsibilities, or conditions for using certain features.
medium90% confidence
No academic credit for content offerings
Coursera does not grant academic credit for the completion of Content Offerings, and there is no presumption that other institutions will accept any credit awarded.
Why it matters: You cannot expect to receive academic credit for completing courses on Coursera, and any credit awarded by one institution may not be accepted by others.
Coursera does not grant academic credit for the completion of Content Offerings. 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.
No Academic Credit, paragraph 1 · Citation strength: strong
Protections
Commitments and features that benefit you. These may include clear refund policies, data-minimization practices, or explicit commitments to user privacy and control.
Protection95% confidence
Non-disclosure of personal identity in research findings
Your personal identity will not be publicly disclosed in any education research findings without your express consent.
Why it helps: Your personal information is protected from public disclosure in research, ensuring your privacy.
Your personal identity will not be publicly disclosed in any research findings without your express consent.
Mandatory consumer protections for EU/EFTA/UK residents
If you are located in the European Union, an EFTA country, or the United Kingdom, these Terms will not deprive you of any mandatory consumer protections under the law of your country.
Why it helps: Residents in these regions retain their full rights under local consumer protection laws, preventing them from being overridden by Coursera's terms.
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.
Governing Law and Venue, paragraph 4 · Citation strength: strong
Report an issue
Flag a citation problem, stale policy text, or incorrect company match.
Verbaterm boundaries
This public review is informational only and is not legal advice. Verbaterm shows only findings tied to the cited source snapshot above.