Snapshot of the source text at fetch time — not a live mirror of the policy page.
Plain-English summary
YouTube's Terms of Service contain several clauses that could negatively impact users. YouTube reserves the right to remove or take down content, or terminate user accounts, without always providing a reason, especially if it believes doing so would compromise an investigation, integrity, or security of the Service (risk_flags-1, risk_flags-2). Furthermore, YouTube makes clear that it disclaims warranties about the service and content (risk_flags-3) and limits its liability for various losses, including loss of profits, data, and punitive damages (risk_flags-4). YouTube's total liability is capped at the greater of revenue paid to the user in 12 months or $500 USD (risk_flags-5). Users grant YouTube a broad, transferable license to use their content worldwide, even for promotion, and YouTube can monetize this content without payment to the user (data_use-1, data_use-2). Lastly, trying to bypass channel restrictions, like strikes, by using another account is considered a material breach that can lead to account termination (gotchas-2).
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Risk Flags
Critical issues that could lead to significant harm or loss.
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YouTube has the right to remove or take down content if it "may cause harm" in its discretion, without providing a reason if it compromises an investigation, integrity, or security of the Service.
YouTube reserves the right to remove or take down content if it is in breach of the Agreement or "may cause harm" to YouTube, its users, or third parties, in its discretion. YouTube will notify you with the reason for its action unless it reasonably believes that doing so would compromise an investigation or the integrity or operation of the Service, or would cause harm to any user, other third party, YouTube or its Affiliates.
Why it matters: YouTube may remove or take down your content, and may not provide a reason if it believes giving a reason would compromise an investigation, integrity, or security of the Service, or cause harm.
If any of your Content (1) is in breach of this Agreement or(2) may cause harm to YouTube, our users, or third parties, we reserve the right to remove or take down some or all of such Content in our discretion.We will notify you with the reason for our action unless we reasonably believe that to do so: (a) would breach the law or the direction of a legal enforcement authority or would otherwise risk legal liability for YouTube or our Affiliates; (b) would compromise an investigation or the integrity or operation of the Service; or (c) would cause harm to any user, other third party, YouTube or our Affiliates.
**Removal of Content By YouTube**, paragraph 1 · Citation strength: strong
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YouTube can suspend or terminate your Google account or access to the Service without notice in certain circumstances.
YouTube reserves the right to suspend or terminate your Google account or access to all or part of the Service if you materially or repeatedly breach the Agreement, if required by law or court order, or if YouTube reasonably believes there has been conduct that creates (or could create) liability or harm to any user, other third party, YouTube or its Affiliates. YouTube will notify you with the reason unless it reasonably believes doing so would violate the law, compromise an investigation, compromise the integrity, operation or security of the Service, or cause harm.
Why it matters: Your Google account or access to the Service may be suspended or terminated by YouTube, potentially without advance notice or specific reason provided, in certain situations, including breaches of the agreement or potential harm to others.
YouTube reserves the right to suspend or terminate your Google account or your access to all or part of the Service if (a) you materially or repeatedly breach this Agreement;(b) we are required to do so to comply with a legal requirement or a court order; or (c) we reasonably believe that there has been conduct that creates (or could create) liability or harm to any user, other third party, YouTube or our Affiliates.
**Terminations and Suspensions by YouTube**, paragraph 1 · Citation strength: strong
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YouTube explicitly disclaims warranties about the service and content.
The Service is provided "AS IS" and YouTube does not make any specific commitments or warranties about the Service, except as expressly stated in the Agreement or as required by law. This includes no warranties about the content provided, specific features, accuracy, reliability, availability, ability to meet needs, or that submitted content will be accessible.
Why it matters: You cannot rely on YouTube for specific qualities, accuracy, or availability of the service or content, and there is no guarantee that your uploaded content will remain accessible.
OTHER THAN AS EXPRESSLY STATED IN THIS AGREEMENT OR AS REQUIRED BY LAW, THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND YOUTUBE DOES NOT MAKE ANY SPECIFIC COMMITMENTS OR WARRANTIES ABOUT THE SERVICE. FOR EXAMPLE, WE DON’T MAKE ANY WARRANTIES ABOUT: (A) THE CONTENT PROVIDED THROUGH THE SERVICE; (B) THE SPECIFIC FEATURES OF THE SERVICE, OR ITS ACCURACY, RELIABILITY, AVAILABILITY, OR ABILITY TO MEET YOUR NEEDS; OR (C) THAT ANY CONTENT YOU SUBMIT WILL BE ACCESSIBLE ON THE SERVICE.
YouTube limits its liability for various types of losses, including loss of profits, data, and punitive damages.
YouTube, its Affiliates, officers, directors, employees, and agents will not be responsible for any loss of profits, revenues, business opportunities, goodwill, or anticipated savings; loss or corruption of data; indirect or consequential loss; or punitive damages, except as required by applicable law. This applies to claims based on warranty, contract, tort, or any other legal theory.
Why it matters: You may not be able to recover financial losses, data loss, or other damages from YouTube if they occur, except as required by law.
EXCEPT AS REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW, YOUTUBE,ITS AFFILIATES, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS, REVENUES, BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES, GOODWILL, OR ANTICIPATED SAVINGS; LOSS OR CORRUPTION OF DATA; INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL LOSS; PUNITIVE DAMAGES CAUSED BY:
YouTube limits its maximum total liability to the greater of revenue paid to you in 12 months or $500 USD.
YouTube and its Affiliates' total liability for any claims arising from or relating to the Service is limited to the greater of the revenue YouTube has paid to you from your use of the Service in the 12 months before your written notice of the claim, or USD $500.
Why it matters: In most cases, any compensation you could receive from YouTube for damages related to the Service is capped at a very low amount, potentially far less than your actual losses.
YOUTUBE AND ITS AFFILIATES’ TOTAL LIABILITY FOR ANY CLAIMS ARISING FROM OR RELATING TO THE SERVICE IS LIMITED TO THE GREATER OF: (A) THE AMOUNT OF REVENUE THAT YOUTUBE HAS PAID TO YOU FROM YOUR USE OF THE SERVICE IN THE 12 MONTHS BEFORE THE DATE OF YOUR NOTICE, IN WRITING TO YOUTUBE, OF THE CLAIM; AND (B) USD $500.
ANY CONTENT WHETHER SUBMITTED BY A USER OR YOUTUBE, INCLUDING YOUR USE OF CONTENT; AND/OR, paragraph 3 · Citation strength: strong
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YouTube accepts no responsibility for content removal or unavailability.
YouTube, its Affiliates, officers, directors, employees and agents will not be responsible for losses caused by the removal or unavailability of any content.
Why it matters: You bear the risk of any losses, including financial or creative, if your content or other content becomes unavailable or is removed from the service.
7. THE REMOVAL OR UNAVAILABILITY OF ANY CONTENT.
ANY CONTENT WHETHER SUBMITTED BY A USER OR YOUTUBE, INCLUDING YOUR USE OF CONTENT; AND/OR, paragraph 1 · Citation strength: strong
Data Use
How the company collects, uses, and shares your data.
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YouTube is granted a broad, transferable license to use your content worldwide, including for promoting the service.
By providing content to the Service, you grant YouTube a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sublicensable and transferable license to use that content (including to reproduce, distribute, prepare derivative works, display and perform it) in connection with the Service and YouTube’s business, including for the purpose of promoting and redistributing part or all of the Service.
Why it matters: YouTube can widely use, distribute, and derive new works from your content, including for promotional purposes, without additional payment, and can transfer these rights to others.
By providing Content to the Service, you grant to YouTube a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sublicensable and transferable license to use that Content (including to reproduce, distribute, prepare derivative works,display and perform it) in connection with the Service and YouTube’s (and its successors' and Affiliates') business, including for the purpose of promoting and redistributing part or all of the Service.
**License to YouTube**, paragraph 1 · Citation strength: strong
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YouTube can monetize your content without payment to you.
You grant YouTube the right to monetize your content on the Service, which may include displaying ads on or within content or charging users a fee for access. This Agreement does not entitle you to any payments.
Why it matters: YouTube can generate revenue from your content (e.g., through ads or fees) without obligation to share any of those earnings with you.
You grant to YouTube the right to monetize your Content on the Service (and such monetization may include displaying ads on or within Content or charging users a fee for access). This Agreement does not entitle you to any payments.
**Duration of License**, paragraph 3 · Citation strength: strong
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YouTube may retain server copies of your content even after you remove or delete it.
While licenses granted by you continue for a commercially reasonable period after you remove or delete your content, YouTube may retain server copies of your removed or deleted videos, though it will not display, distribute, or perform them.
Why it matters: Even after you delete your content, YouTube may keep copies on its servers, meaning your content may still exist on their systems in some form. YouTube states it will not display, distribute, or perform such content.
The licenses granted by you continue for a commercially reasonable period of time after you remove or delete your Content from the Service. You understand and agree, however, that YouTube may retain, but not display, distribute, or perform, server copies of your videos that have been removed or deleted.
**Duration of License**, paragraph 1 · Citation strength: strong
Cancellation and Renewal
Terms related to how subscriptions or services can be canceled or renewed.
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No billing surprises spotted
Verbaterm only flags concerns it can cite. No cancellation, auto-renewal, or refund terms needed attention here.
Gotchas
Tricky clauses that may be overlooked.
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Using the service does not grant you ownership or rights to any aspect of the service, including usernames or content posted by others or YouTube.
Using the Service does not give you ownership of or rights to any aspect of the Service, including user names or any other Content posted by others or YouTube.
Why it matters: You will not own or have rights to any part of the service, including your username or any content not explicitly created by you.
Using the Service does not give you ownership of or rights to any aspect of the Service, including user names or any other Content posted by others or YouTube.
If your channel is restricted due to a strike, using another channel to bypass these restrictions is a material breach and can lead to account termination.
If your channel has been restricted due to a strike, you must not use another channel to circumvent these restrictions. Violating this prohibition is a material breach of the Agreement and Google reserves the right to terminate your Google account or access to all or part of the Service.
Why it matters: Attempting to bypass channel restrictions by using another account after receiving a strike can result in the termination of your Google account or your access to YouTube.
If your channel has been restricted due to a strike, you must not use another channel to circumvent these restrictions. Violation of this prohibition is a material breach of this Agreement and Google reserves the right to terminate your Google account or your access to all or part of the Service.
Why it helps: This clause confirms that you maintain legal ownership of the content you create and upload, preventing the service from claiming ownership of your intellectual property.
Opportunity to export your content from your Google Account using Google Takeout.
If YouTube makes material changes that negatively impact your use of the Service, you will be provided with an opportunity to export your content from your Google Account using Google Takeout, subject to applicable law and policies.
Why it helps: This clause allows you to retrieve your content if material changes to the service negatively impact your usage, giving you control over your data.
We’ll also provide you with an opportunity to export your content from your Google Account using [Google Takeout](https://takeout.google.com/settings/takeout?pli=1), subject to applicable law and policies.