Terms of Service

20230401_rev01 · COMPARED WITH 20221001_rev01 · ARCHIVE SNAPSHOT, DATE APPROXIMATE

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1_Last Updated: July 5, 2022_
1_Last Updated: March 3, 2023_
22
33## The Gist
44
55We (the [folks at Automattic](https://automattic.com/about/)) are on a mission to make the web a better place. We hope you love our products and services - from website publishing tools to ecommerce solutions to security backup systems to management tools for distributed companies to the next great idea that we haven't even thought of yet - as much as we love creating them.
66
77These Terms of Service ("Terms") describe our commitments to you, and your rights and responsibilities when using our services. Please read them carefully and reach out to us if you have any questions. **If you don't agree to these Terms, don't use our services.**
1313## Terms of Service
1414
1515These Terms govern your access to and use of the products and services we provide through or for [WordPress.com](https://wordpress.com/), [WooCommerce.com](https://woocommerce.com/), [WooCommerce Shipping & Tax](https://wordpress.org/plugins/woocommerce-services/), [WooPay](https://pay.woo.com/), [Jetpack.com](https://jetpack.com/), [VaultPress.com](https://vaultpress.com/), [Happy.Tools](https://happy.tools/), [Jetpack CRM](https://jetpackcrm.com/), [MailPoet](http://mailpoet.com/), [WPScan.com](https://wpscan.com/), and [WordPress.com Courses](https://wpcourses.com/) (collectively, "Services"). Please note that WooCommerce-related products and services are intended for commercial use and you acknowledge that your use is that of a representative of a business (as defined by applicable law) and not that of a consumer.
1616
1717These Terms also govern visitors' access to and use of any websites that use our Services, like the websites that our users create on WordPress.com. Please note though that the operators of those websites may also have their own separate terms of use.
1818
19For some of Automattic's other products, services, and programs, such as [Akismet](https://akismet.com/), [Crowdsignal](https://crowdsignal.com/), [Newspack](https://newspack.pub/), [WordPress VIP](https://wpvip.com/), our [Affiliate Program](https://refer.wordpress.com/), and our [Refer-A-Friend Program](https://wordpress.com/refer-a-friend-program-terms-of-service/), additional or separate terms may apply.
19For some of Automattic's other products, services, and programs, such as [Akismet](https://akismet.com/), [Crowdsignal](https://crowdsignal.com/), [Newspack](https://newspack.pub/), [WordPress VIP](https://wpvip.com/), our [Affiliate Program](https://refer.wordpress.com/), and our [Refer-A-Friend Program](https://wordpress.com/refer-a-friend-program-terms-of-service/), additional or separate terms and policies may apply.
2020
2121Please read these Terms carefully before accessing or using our Services. By accessing or using any part of our Services, you agree to be bound by all of the Terms and all other operating rules, policies, and procedures that we may publish via the Services from time to time (collectively, the "Agreement"). You also agree that we may automatically change, update, or add on to our Services as stated in the Terms, and the Agreement will apply to any changes.
2222
2323## 1\. Who's Who
2424
2525"You" means any individual or entity using our Services. If you use our Services on behalf of another person or entity, you represent and warrant that you're authorized to accept the Agreement on that person's or entity's behalf, that by using our Services you're accepting the Agreement on behalf of that person or entity, and that if you, or that person or entity, violates the Agreement, you and that person or entity agree to be responsible to us.
7575## 5\. Fees, Payment, and Renewal
7676
7777### a. Automattic Fees
7878
7979**Fees for Paid Services.** Some of our Services are offered for a fee, like certain [WordPress.com plans](https://wordpress.com/pricing/) or [WooCommerce themes or extensions](https://woocommerce.com/) (collectively, "Paid Services"). This section applies to any purchases of Paid Services.
8080
81By using a Paid Service, you agree to pay the specified fees. Depending on the Paid Service, there may be one-time fees, recurring fees, or revenue-based fees. For recurring fees (AKA subscriptions), your subscription begins on your purchase date, and we'll bill or charge you in the automatically-renewing interval (such as monthly, annually, or biennially) you select, on a pre-pay basis until you cancel, which you can do at any time by contacting the relevant support team. For revenue-based fees - such as [fees for the Payments feature](https://wordpress.com/support/wordpress-editor/blocks/payments/) - you pay us a percentage of the revenue your website generates. Revenue-based fees are ongoing.
81By using a Paid Service, you agree to pay the specified fees. Depending on the Paid Service, there may be different kinds of fees, like some that are one-time, recurring, revenue-based, or based on an advertising campaign budget that you set. For recurring fees (AKA subscriptions), your subscription begins on your purchase date, and we'll bill or charge you in the automatically-renewing interval (such as monthly, annually, or biennially) you select, on a pre-pay basis until you cancel, which you can do at any time by contacting the relevant support team. For revenue-based fees - such as [fees for the Payments feature](https://wordpress.com/support/wordpress-editor/blocks/payments/) - you pay us a percentage of the revenue your website generates. Revenue-based fees are ongoing.
8282
8383**Taxes.** To the extent permitted by law, or unless explicitly stated otherwise, all fees do not include applicable federal, provincial, state, local or other governmental sales, value-added, goods and services, harmonized or other taxes, fees, or charges ("Taxes"). You're responsible for paying all applicable Taxes relating to your use of our Services, your payments, or your purchases. If we're obligated to pay or collect Taxes on the fees you've paid or will pay, you're responsible for those Taxes, and we may collect payment from you.
8484
8585**Payment.** You must provide accurate and up-to-date payment information. By providing your payment information, you authorize us to store it until you request deletion. If your payment fails, we suspect fraud, or Paid Services are otherwise not paid for or paid for on time (for example, if you contact your bank or credit card company to decline or reverse the charge of fees for Paid Services), we may immediately cancel or revoke your access to Paid Services without notice to you. You authorize us to charge any updated payment information provided by your bank or payment service provider (e.g., new expiration date) or other payment methods provided if we can't charge your primary payment method.
8686
8787**Automatic Renewal.** By enrolling in a subscription, you authorize us to automatically charge the then-applicable fees and Taxes for each subsequent subscription period until the subscription is canceled. If you received a discount, used a coupon code, or subscribed during a free trial or promotion, your subscription will automatically renew for the full price of the subscription at the end of the discount period. This means that unless you cancel a subscription, it'll automatically renew and we'll charge your payment method(s). You must cancel at least one month before the scheduled end date of any annual subscription and at least 24 hours before the end of any shorter subscription period. The date for the automatic renewal is based on the date of the original purchase and cannot be changed. If you've purchased access to multiple services, you may have multiple renewal dates.
143143**License.** By uploading or sharing Content, you grant us a worldwide, royalty-free, transferable, sub-licensable, and non-exclusive license to use, reproduce, modify, distribute, adapt, publicly display, and publish the Content solely for the purpose of providing and improving our products and Services and promoting your website. This license also allows us to make any publicly-posted Content available to select third parties (through [Firehose](https://developer.wordpress.com/docs/firehose/), for example) so that these third parties can analyze and distribute (but not publicly display) the Content through their services. You also give other WordPress.com users permission to share your Content on other WordPress.com websites and add their own Content to it (aka to "reblog" your Content), so long as they use only a portion of your post and they give you credit as the original author by linking back to your website, which the [reblogging](https://en.support.wordpress.com/reblogs/) function on WordPress.com does automatically.
144144
145145**Removing Content.** If you delete Content, we'll use reasonable efforts to remove it from public view (or in the case of a private website, from view by the authorized visitors) on WordPress.com, but you acknowledge that cached versions of the Content or references to the Content may not be immediately unavailable.
146146
147147**Web Traffic.** We may use a third-party service to measure WordPress.com's audience and usage. By having your website on WordPress.com, you agree to assign the traffic for your website to Automattic, and you authorize us to sign a Traffic Assignment Letter on your behalf. This means that your website's traffic may be included under Automattic, your website may not receive credit for traffic in the respective reports, and you must not assign your website's traffic to any other party. If we require additional documentation to verify ownership of your website or domain name, you agree to make reasonable efforts to provide it.
148148
149**Prohibited Uses.** Your Content and conduct must not violate the [WordPress.com User Guidelines](https://en.support.wordpress.com/user-guidelines/) or the [VideoPress Service Guidelines](https://videopress.com/service-guidelines) if you use our Services to upload videos.
149**Prohibited Uses.** Your Content and conduct must not violate the [WordPress.com User Guidelines](https://en.support.wordpress.com/user-guidelines/) or the [VideoPress Service Guidelines](https://videopress.com/service-guidelines) if you use our Services to upload videos. You must comply with our [advertising policy](https://automattic.com/advertising-policy/) if you use our advertising features, like Blaze.
150150
151151**HTTPS.** We offer free HTTPS on all WordPress.com websites by default, including those using custom domains, via [Let's Encrypt](https://letsencrypt.org/). By signing up and using a custom domain on WordPress.com, you authorize us to represent that you have the power and authority to act on the domain name registrant's behalf (by requesting the necessary certificates, for example) for the sole purpose of providing HTTPS on your website.
152152
153**Advertisements.** We may display advertisements on your website unless you have purchased a plan that includes the removal of ads.
153**Advertisements.** We may display advertisements on your website and domain unless you have purchased a plan that includes the removal of ads.
154154
155155**Attribution.** We may display attribution text or links in your website footer or toolbar, noting that your website is powered by WordPress.com or attributing the creator of your theme, for example. For more details about these attributions, and under which circumstances (if any) you may alter or remove them, please see our [Footer Credit Options support page](https://wordpress.com/support/footer-credits/).
156156
157157**Professional Email.** Your use of Professional Email is subject to Titan's (Flock FZLLC) policies, including Titan's [Customer Terms of Use](https://support.titan.email/hc/en-us/articles/360038024254-Titan-Customer-Terms-of-Use) (for owners of the email subscription), [End User Terms of Use](https://support.titan.email/hc/en-us/articles/900000761843-Titan-End-User-Terms-of-Use-) (for individuals granted access to mailboxes created by the subscription owner), [Acceptable Use Policy](https://support.titan.email/hc/en-us/articles/900000775226-Titan-Acceptable-Use-Policy), and [Privacy Policy](https://support.titan.email/hc/en-us/articles/360038535773-Titan-Privacy-Policy) in addition to these Terms. We make no warranties related to these services and disclaim any obligations or actions of Titan under their policies.
158158
159159**Domain Names.** We act as a registrar and also work with third-party registrars to provide domain name services. When you register a domain on WordPress.com or transfer an existing domain to WordPress.com, the [policies of the respective registry](https://en.support.wordpress.com/registry-policies/) apply, and you become bound by the relevant registrar's terms and conditions. Depending on the domain, you may be subject to the terms of the [Automattic Domain Name Registration Agreement](https://wordpress.com/automattic-domain-name-registration-agreement/), [Key-Systems GmbH Registration Agreement](https://www.rrpproxy.net/Legal/Registration_Agreement), [Tucows Domain Inc. Registration Agreement](https://opensrs.com/wp-content/uploads/Tucows_ExhibitA.html), or [this Domain Name Registration Agreement](https://www.secureserver.net/legal-agreement), in addition to these Terms. When you register a domain, you're presented with and must agree to the applicable domain registration agreement. If you didn't make a note of it, you can look it up at any time. Please see [the Domain Registration Agreements page](http://en.support.wordpress.com/domain-registration-agreements) for instructions on how to determine which domain registration agreements apply to you and your domains. These registrar terms are incorporated by reference into these Terms.
183183Sites using WooCommerce may offer you the ability to use WooPay. If you elect to use WooPay, your payment method information will be saved for use on any site that has integrated WooPay. To take advantage of WooPay for future purchases, you must use the same web browser that you used to sign up for WooPay and must not have cleared your cookies (otherwise you may be required to re-enroll). You agree to follow any other steps we require to help verify your identity as part of the enrollment or purchase process, including via email or SMS text message confirmations. Enrolling in WooPay will create a WordPress.com account for you if you don't already have one. WooPay is designed to allow you to save certain information, such as shipping and payment information, for future purchases. You must keep your WooPay information accurate and up-to-date. You can update your WooPay information by accessing your [WooPay Dashboard](https://pay.woo.com/account/) using the email and phone number you signed up with. You should only use WooPay on a device that you own or control and it is your responsibility to prevent others from accessing your device's web browser to help prevent unauthorized purchases through WooPay.
184184
185185Even when your saved WooPay information is used for a transaction, the transaction remains only between you and the merchant. Requesting the deletion of your WooPay information will not cancel any transactions you have already made or terminate any subscriptions you have already enrolled in. To cancel a transaction or terminate a subscription, you must contact the merchant directly.
186186
187187### d. Jetpack
188188
189Jetpack is a plugin that connects your website to WordPress.com's infrastructure to give you powerful WordPress.com features. To take advantage of the performance-boosting features of Jetpack, certain information about the Content, settings, and setup of your website are synced with our servers, as described on our [What Data Does Jetpack Sync? support page](https://jetpack.com/support/what-data-does-jetpack-sync/). Any content you publish on a self-hosted website connected to Jetpack ("Jetpack Content") remains under your ownership and control.
189Jetpack supercharges your site by connecting to our infrastructure via various Jetpack plugins developed by Automattic (like Jetpack, Jetpack Boost, and Jetpack Search). To take advantage of the valuable features of Jetpack, your website is synced with our servers, as described on our [What Data Does Jetpack Sync? support page](https://jetpack.com/support/what-data-does-jetpack-sync/). Any content you publish on a self-hosted website connected to Jetpack ("Jetpack Content") remains under your ownership and control.
190190
191191**Features and Enhanced Distribution.** Jetpack includes various features, some of which are [on by default](https://jetpack.com/support/default-features/) when you activate Jetpack, and others that you need to enable manually. You can see your active features and choose which to activate or deactivate on your dashboard.
192192
193193The [Enhanced Distribution](https://jetpack.com/support/enhanced-distribution/) feature is on by default and aggregates public Jetpack Content to the WordPress.com Firehose. You can disable this at any time by following [these instructions](https://jetpack.com/support/control-jetpack-features-on-one-page/). If you leave this feature activated, you grant us permission to display your Jetpack Content on WordPress.com.
194194
195195**License.** By using Jetpack, you grant us access to your website's servers for the purpose of backing up, taking measures to protect and scanning your Jetpack Content, and restoring files and database information (which may include access details for multiple servers or accounts for each website that we backup). Jetpack may temporarily install extra software on your website to back up your website and scan it for security vulnerabilities. In order to address security vulnerabilities, we may automatically update your version of Jetpack or access your website to remove malicious code. We may also manually access your site to troubleshoot your support requests, or if there's an emergency. You agree that we may scan your website and compile aggregated/anonymized statistics for our internal use (such as to optimize Jetpack's performance).
196196
197197You grant us a worldwide, royalty-free, transferable, sub-licensable, non-exclusive license to use, reproduce, modify, distribute, adapt, publicly display, publish, copy, and store Jetpack Content for the purpose of providing and improving our products and Services and promoting your websites. This license also allows us to make any publicly-posted Content available to select third parties (through [Firehose](https://developer.wordpress.com/docs/firehose/), for example) so that these third parties can analyze and distribute (but not publicly display) the Content through their services.
198198
199**Prohibited Uses.** Your website and Jetpack Content must comply with [Jetpack's Service Guidelines](https://jetpack.com/service-guidelines/).
199**Prohibited Uses.** Your website and Jetpack Content must comply with [Jetpack's Service Guidelines](https://jetpack.com/service-guidelines/), and you must comply with our [advertising policy](https://automattic.com/advertising-policy/) if you use our advertising features, like Blaze.
200200
201201### e. Jetpack CRM
202202
203203Jetpack CRM is an open source, customizable customer relationship management tool built specifically for WordPress sites. Jetpack CRM core is free to install and you can extend the functionality by purchasing premium extensions.
204204
205205**Access, updates, and support.** When you purchase a Jetpack CRM Paid Service, you'll receive access to any necessary downloads along with updates and support (for which this [support policy applies](https://kb.jetpackcrm.com/jetpackcrm-support-policy/)) for those Paid Services for a period of one year, starting on the date of your purchase. Once your year is up, you'll need to renew your subscription if you'd like continued access to updates or support, or if you need to download any files again.
230230- must accurately communicate product and transaction details, set expectations appropriately, and fulfill all commitments you've made.
231231- are responsible for payment of all applicable Taxes relating to your ecommerce activities and your use of Ecommerce Services. You must collect, report, and/or pay the correct amounts to the appropriate authorities if applicable, and if needed, tell your customers about any Taxes they may be required to pay and issue appropriate invoices.
232232- are responsible for acquiring appropriate consent to process customer transactions, giving customers confirmation or receipts for each charge, verifying customers' identities, and determining a customer's eligibility and authority to complete transactions.
233233- must provide contact information so customers can contact you with questions or complaints.
234234- must maintain fair and legally compliant return, refund, cancellation, and adjustment policies and clearly explain how customers can request a refund.
235235- are responsible for all questions, complaints, disputes (including chargebacks), refunds, reversals, or fines that arise from your use of Ecommerce Services.
236- should not encourage customers to submit chargebacks.
236237- are responsible for investigating any transaction you believe may be erroneous, suspicious, or prohibited by law, or otherwise pose unacceptable compliance risks to us or you and, if appropriate, obtaining adequate information and assurances from your customer before fulfilling or completing the transaction.
237238- are solely responsible for ensuring that your transactions with customers comply with applicable export, import, and sanctions laws and regulations, including obtaining any required licenses or other authorizations or making required filings.
238239- must comply with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) if applicable to you.
239240- must promptly notify us via [email](mailto:legal@wordpress.com) if you receive any inquiry or action from a government or regulatory agency (such as the Federal Trade Commission or a state Attorney General) that's related to your use of Ecommerce Services.
240241
241242**Prohibited Uses.** You may not use Ecommerce Services for any unlawful purposes; in furtherance of illegal activities; or in a manner that is unfair, deceptive, exposes us or customers to unreasonable risks, or does not disclose important terms of a transaction in advance. Among other things, this means that:
275276Unless a refund is required by law, there are no refunds for POS terminals and all transactions are final.
276277
277278**More on WooPay Specifically.** When you use WooCommerce Payments, WooPay may be available as a checkout option on your checkout page unless you remove it from your checkout options through your administrative controls. WooPay may not be available in all languages or jurisdictions, and we make no representation that WooPay is available for use in all locations or for all products or services. The use of saved WooPay information for a transaction does not change your obligations relating to the transaction, and we make no representations or warranties that the saved WooPay information is accurate or that the WooPay user is authorized to use any payment information they saved with WooPay. You acknowledge and agree that we are not and do not become a party to the transaction between you and your customer as a result of the use of WooPay and that we will not be responsible for any aspect of the products or services that you sell. By enabling WooPay on your site, you acknowledge that we may collect and process information about you, your customers, and your orders pursuant to our [privacy policy](https://automattic.com/privacy/). You will comply with any additional terms and conditions required by any third-party services associated with your use of WooPay.
278279
279280**More on Shipping Services Specifically.** Our shipping Services allow you to check shipping rates or buy shipping labels from certain mailing services, like [UPS](https://www.ups.com/), [USPS](https://www.usps.com/), [DHL](https://www.dhl.com/), and [Canada Post](https://www.canadapost.ca/). We're only an intermediary between you and these third parties; we aren't involved in any way with your product or its shipment. We also don't guarantee that the results you obtain from the use of these services (like rates, labels, or delivery timeframes) will be accurate or reliable.
280281
281You're solely responsible for compliance with all applicable rules and regulations, including domestic and international shipping and customs regulations and any regulations imposed by the mailing service(s) you use. For example:
282You're solely responsible for compliance with all applicable rules and regulations, including domestic and international shipping and customs regulations and any regulations imposed by the mailing service(s) you use.
282283
283- If you use USPS postage, you need to comply with their [shipping restrictions](https://www.usps.com/ship/shipping-restrictions.htm) and [mailing standards](http://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/dmm300_landing.htm), among others.
284- When using DHL's services, you are responsible for compliance with all applicable [DHL rules and terms](http://www.dhl-usa.com/), such as the DHL Express Terms and Conditions of Carriage.
284If you use services provided by the US Postal Service ("USPS"):
285285
286- You agree to comply with their [shipping restrictions](https://www.usps.com/ship/shipping-restrictions.htm) and [mailing standards](http://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/dmm300_landing.htm), among others.
287- The following Privacy Act Statement applies to information you provide to USPS: Your information will be used to facilitate the purchase of USPS postage and fulfill transactional reporting requirements for USPS postage systems. Collection is authorized by 39 U.S.C. 401, 403, and 404. Providing the information is voluntary, but if not provided, your transaction may not be processed. USPS does not disclose your information to third parties without your consent except to facilitate the transaction, to act on your behalf or request, or as legally required. This includes the following limited circumstances: to a congressional office on your behalf; to financial entities regarding financial transaction issues; to a US Postal Service (USPS) auditor; to entities, including law enforcement, as required by law or in legal proceedings; and to contractors and other entities aiding us to fulfill the service (service providers). For more information regarding USPS privacy policies, visit [http://www.usps.com/privacypolicy](http://www.usps.com/privacypolicy)
288
289When using DHL's services, you are responsible for compliance with all applicable [DHL rules and terms](http://www.dhl-usa.com/), such as the DHL Express Terms and Conditions of Carriage.
290
286291In addition, you're solely responsible for customs charges, import taxes or duties, and any other charges related to your shipments. If we incur any charges as a result of your use of the shipping services, you agree to reimburse us for the full amount within 7 days.
287292
288293In some cases, you may need to pay fees to the carrier directly, like if you use UPS shipping labels. In other cases, you authorize us to charge you for the fees associated with each shipping label you create. Each fee will be charged separately to the payment methods you provide in your WordPress.com account, which you can view and manage as described on the [Payments Methods support page](https://en.support.wordpress.com/payment/). If you have multiple payment methods, you can select which should be used for the shipping label service. If we're unable to collect payment from you for these fees, you'll be responsible for payment within 7 days; please contact us to make payment.
289294
290295Refunds for unused shipping labels must be requested ([like so for USPS](https://docs.woocommerce.com/document/woocommerce-shipping-and-tax/woocommerce-shipping/)) in your store's wp-admin within 30 days of creating the label. Depending on your bank and the third party involved, it can take up to 45 days for your refund to be issued. If you don't receive your refund within this time frame, please contact us.
291296
358363## 21\. Miscellaneous
359364
360365The Agreement (together with any other terms we provide that apply to any specific Service) constitutes the entire agreement between Automattic and you concerning our Services. If any part of the Agreement is unlawful, void, or unenforceable, that part is severable from the Agreement, and does not affect the validity or enforceability of the rest of the Agreement. A waiver by either party of any term or condition of the Agreement or any breach thereof, in any one instance, will not waive such term or condition or any subsequent breach thereof.
361366
362367Automattic may assign its rights under the Agreement without condition. You may only assign your rights under the Agreement with our prior written consent.
363368
364[Print friendly version](https://en.support.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/tos-07-05-22.pdf)
369[Print friendly version](https://wpcom.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/tos-03-03-2023.pdf)
365370
366371[**Change log**](https://wordpress.com/tos-change-log)