Old version
April 19, 2026 06:22 UTC
846bc3e729bf0d87deb46877a2c4733c003020596e285080d9e0075de078d513
CA-V-000776
New version
April 28, 2026 06:21 UTC
84ac345720d21eb8ce6f6cbf8dfd1c846d983cbcba8f909f069557a2366c676f
CA-V-001993
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Change Summary
GitHub added a new section titled 'AI Features, Training, and Your Data' to its Terms of Service on April 28, 2026, establishing specific terms governing GitHub Copilot and other AI features. The new section explicitly addresses how user data may be used for development and improvement of AI and machine learning models, and describes what controls users have over that data. This addition moves AI-related governance from general terms into a dedicated contractual section.
medium severity
36 Sentences added
0 Sentences removed
58 Sentences modified
332 Sentences before
368 Sentences after
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10Beta Previews K.10AI Features, Training, and Your Data K.
11Payment L.11Beta Previews L.
12Cancellation and Termination M.12Payment M.
13Communications with GitHub N.13Cancellation and Termination N.
14Disclaimer of Warranties O.14Communications with GitHub O.
15Limitation of Liability P.15Disclaimer of Warranties P.
16Release and Indemnification Q.16Limitation of Liability Q.
17Changes to These Terms R.17Release and Indemnification R.
18Changes to These Terms S.
46AI Features, Training, and Your Data These are the terms that apply to GitHub Copilot and other AI features, including how your data may be used for development and improvement of the artificial intelligence and machine learning models, and the controls available to you.
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66The GitHub Terms of Service Effective date: November 16, 2020 A.69The GitHub Terms of Service Effective date: April 27, 2026 A.
75"Beta Previews" mean software, services, or features identified as alpha, beta, preview, early access, or evaluation, or words or phrases with similar meanings. “Content” refers to content featured or displayed through the Website, including without limitation code, text, data, articles, images, photographs, graphics, software, applications, packages, designs, features, and other materials that are available on the Website or otherwise available through the Service.78"AI Feature" means any feature of GitHub or our Affiliates that uses machine learning or artificial intelligence to generate Output, including GitHub Copilot, Copilot Autofix, and any other feature identified as using machine learning or artificial intelligence in our documentation. “Affiliate” means any entity that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with a party, where "control" means having more than fifty percent (50%) ownership or the right to direct the management of the entity.
76"Content" also includes Services. “User-Generated Content” is Content, written or otherwise, created or uploaded by our Users.79For the avoidance of doubt, Microsoft is an Affiliate of GitHub.
77"Your Content" is Content that you create or own. “GitHub,” “We,” and “Us” refer to GitHub, Inc., as well as our affiliates, directors, subsidiaries, contractors, licensors, officers, agents, and employees.80"Beta Previews" mean software, services, or features identified as alpha, beta, preview, early access, or evaluation, or words or phrases with similar meanings.
78The “Service” refers to the applications, software, products, and services provided by GitHub, including any Beta Previews. “The User,” “You,” and “Your” refer to the individual person, company, or organization that has visited or is using the Website or Service; that accesses or uses any part of the Account; or that directs the use of the Account in the performance of its functions.81"Content" means code, text, data, documentation, images, graphics, software, packages, and other materials made available through the Service. “GitHub,” “We,” and “Us” refer to GitHub, Inc., as well as our directors, subsidiaries, contractors, licensors, officers, agents, and employees. “Input” means any content or context provided to an AI Feature, including prompts, attachments, code in your workspace, and conversation history.
82"Output" means responses and suggestions, including code or other material, generated by an AI Feature.
83The “Service” refers to the applications, software, products, and services provided by GitHub, including through the Website and any Beta Previews. “User,” “You,” and “Your” refer to the individual person, company, or organization that has visited or is using the Website or Service; that accesses or uses any part of the Account; or that directs the use of the Account in the performance of its functions.
86"User-Generated Content" means Content that you or other users upload, submit, or create through the Service.
92"Your Content" means User-Generated Content that you upload, submit, or create, including your modifications to Content you have forked or cloned.
93It does not include the underlying Content created by others.
99Account Requirements We have a few simple rules for Personal Accounts on GitHub's Service.107Account Requirements We have a few simple rules for Accounts on GitHub's Service.
140Responsibility for User-Generated Content You may create or upload User-Generated Content while using the Service.148Responsibility for User-Generated Content You are responsible for Your Content and any harm resulting from it.
141You are solely responsible for the content of, and for any harm resulting from, any User-Generated Content that you post, upload, link to or otherwise make available via the Service, regardless of the form of that Content.149This includes Content you post, upload, or make available through the Service.
142We are not responsible for any public display or misuse of your User-Generated Content. 2.150We are not responsible for any public display or misuse of Your Content. 2.
143GitHub May Remove Content We have the right to refuse or remove any User-Generated Content that, in our sole discretion, violates any laws or GitHub terms or policies .151GitHub May Remove Content We may refuse or remove User-Generated Content that violates applicable law or our terms and policies.
144User-Generated Content displayed on GitHub Mobile may be subject to mobile app stores' additional terms. 3.152We access private repositories only as described in Section E.
145Ownership of Content, Right to Post, and License Grants You retain ownership of and responsibility for Your Content.153Content displayed on GitHub Mobile may be subject to app store terms. 3.
146If you're posting anything you did not create yourself or do not own the rights to, you agree that you are responsible for any Content you post; that you will only submit Content that you have the right to post; and that you will fully comply with any third party licenses relating to Content you post.154Ownership and License Grants You own Your Content.
147Because you retain ownership of and responsibility for Your Content, we need you to grant us — and other GitHub Users — certain legal permissions, listed in Sections D.4 — D.7. These license grants apply to Your Content.155If you post Content you did not create, you are responsible for ensuring you have the right to post it and for complying with any applicable licenses.
148If you upload Content that already comes with a license granting GitHub the permissions we need to run our Service, no additional license is required.156You grant us and other Users the licenses in Sections D.4–D.8. These licenses apply to Your Content.
149You understand that you will not receive any payment for any of the rights granted in Sections D.4 — D.7. The licenses you grant to us will end when you remove Your Content from our servers, unless other Users have forked it. 4.157If Your Content already includes a license granting us the permissions we need, no additional license is required.
150License Grant to Us We need the legal right to do things like host Your Content, publish it, and share it.158You will not receive payment for these rights.
151You grant us and our legal successors the right to store, archive, parse, and display Your Content, and make incidental copies, as necessary to provide the Service, including improving the Service over time.159These licenses end when you remove Your Content, unless other Users have forked it. 4.
152This license includes the right to do things like copy it to our database and make backups; show it to you and other users; parse it into a search index or otherwise analyze it on our servers; share it with other users; and perform it, in case Your Content is something like music or video.160License Grant to Us You grant GitHub and our Affiliates the right to store, host, archive, parse, display, and make copies of Your Content as necessary to provide, develop, and improve the Service, including by training AI Features, and for the purpose of training, developing, and improving artificial intelligence and machine learning models and technologies of our Affiliates.
153This license does not grant GitHub the right to sell Your Content.161This license includes the right to do things like copy it to our database and make backups; show it to you and other Users; parse it into a search index or otherwise analyze it on our servers; share it with other Users; and perform it, in case Your Content is something like music or video.
154It also does not grant GitHub the right to otherwise distribute or use Your Content outside of our provision of the Service, except that as part of the right to archive Your Content, GitHub may permit our partners to store and archive Your Content in public repositories in connection with the GitHub Arctic Code Vault and GitHub Archive Program . 5.162For the avoidance of doubt, use of Your Content to develop, train, and improve artificial intelligence and machine learning models and technologies of GitHub and our Affiliates is within the scope of this license and does not constitute a sale or other restricted transfer of Your Content. 5.
155License Grant to Other Users Any User-Generated Content you post publicly, including issues, comments, and contributions to other Users' repositories, may be viewed by others.163License Grant to Other Users Your Content that you post publicly, including issues, comments, and contributions to other Users' repositories, may be viewed by others.
156By setting your repositories to be viewed publicly, you agree to allow others to view and "fork" your repositories (this means that others may make their own copies of Content from your repositories in repositories they control).164By setting your repositories to be viewed publicly, you agree to allow others to view and "fork" your repositories (this means that others may make their own copies within the Service in repositories they control).
157If you set your pages and repositories to be viewed publicly, you grant each User of GitHub a nonexclusive, worldwide license to use, display, and perform Your Content through the GitHub Service and to reproduce Your Content solely on GitHub as permitted through GitHub's functionality (for example, through forking).165By making a repository public, you grant other Users a nonexclusive, worldwide license to use, display, perform and reproduce (by forking) Your Content through the Service as permitted by GitHub's functionality.
158You may grant further rights if you adopt a license .166You may grant additional rights by adopting a license .
159If you are uploading Content you did not create or own, you are responsible for ensuring that the Content you upload is licensed under terms that grant these permissions to other GitHub Users. 6.167If you post Content you did not create or own, you are responsible for ensuring it is licensed under terms that permit these uses. 6.
167However, you waive these rights and agree not to assert them against us, to enable us to reasonably exercise the rights granted in Section D.4, but not otherwise.175However, you waive these rights and agree not to assert them against us or our Affiliates, to enable GitHub and our Affiliates to reasonably exercise the rights granted in Section D.4, but not otherwise.
177Public Repositories and Lawful Access By choosing to contribute Content to a public repository, you are choosing to and directing us to make such Content accessible to everyone on the internet.
178Unless specifically set forth herein, these Terms do not restrict lawful access to or use of the contents of public repositories by third parties, or by GitHub or its Affiliates. 9.
171This Section D.8 does not apply to Access solely for the purpose of academic research or if, on the date you Access the Content, the number of monthly active users of the products or services made available by you is less than 700 million in the preceding calendar month.181This Section D.9 does not apply to Access solely for the purpose of academic research or if, on the date you Access the Content, the number of monthly active users of the products or services made available by you is less than 700 million in the preceding calendar month.
174Private Repositories Short version: We treat the content of private repositories as confidential, and we only access it as described in our Privacy Statement—for security purposes, to assist the repository owner with a support matter, to maintain the integrity of the Service, to comply with our legal obligations, if we have reason to believe the contents are in violation of the law, or with your consent. 1.184Private Repositories Short version: We treat the content of private repositories as confidential, and we only access it as described in Section E.3 below—for security purposes, to assist the repository owner with a support matter, to maintain the integrity of the Service, to comply with our legal obligations, if we have reason to believe the contents are in violation of the law, or with your consent. 1.
178Access GitHub personnel may only access the content of your private repositories in the situations described in our Privacy Statement .188Access You control access to the content of your private repositories.
189GitHub considers the contents of private repositories to be confidential to you, as set forth in Section E.2, and GitHub personnel will not access private repository content without your consent except in the following circumstances: for security purposes; for automated scanning or manual review for known vulnerabilities, active malware, or other content known to violate our Terms of Service; to assist the repository owner with a support matter; to maintain the integrity of the Service; or to comply with our legal obligations if we have reason to believe the contents are in violation of the law.
194If you provide your private repository content as Input to AI Features, we may use that Input to provide, develop, train, and improve the Service, including AI Features.
195Your ability to opt out under Section J.3 applies to this use of private repository content.
196We will not otherwise use your private repository contents to develop or improve the Service.
203API Terms Short version: You agree to these Terms of Service, plus this Section H, when using any of GitHub's APIs (Application Provider Interface), including use of the API through a third party product that accesses GitHub.217API Terms Short version: You agree to these Terms of Service, plus this Section H, when using any of GitHub's APIs (Application Programming Interface), including use of the API through a third party product that accesses GitHub.
230AI Features, Training, and Your Data 1.
231Applicability This section applies to all AI Features unless a specific feature has additional terms that expressly modify them.
232The training and data-use provisions in Section J.3 apply only to individual licenses.
233If your use of the Service is governed by a GitHub Customer Agreement or volume licensing agreement, those agreements govern the use of your data in connection with AI Features and Section J.3 does not apply to you. 2.
234Ownership GitHub does not claim ownership of your Input or Output.
235Output may contain material that resembles code or content in the model's training data or that is subject to third-party copyrights or open source license terms.
236You are responsible for determining whether your use of Output requires a third-party license and for complying with any such license. 3.
237Development and Improvement Using Your Input and Output We use your Inputs to generate Outputs and provide the AI Features.
238You also grant GitHub and its Affiliates a license to collect and use your Inputs and Outputs to develop, train and improve artificial intelligence and machine learning models and technologies including those that power AI Features, unless (a) you opt out through your account settings, or (b) your use of the Service is governed by a GitHub Customer Agreement or volume licensing agreement.
239If you opt out, GitHub will not collect or use your Inputs and Outputs for the purposes described in this paragraph from the effective date of your opt-out going forward.
240Unless you opt out, GitHub's Affiliates may use your Inputs and Outputs under this license in accordance with their applicable privacy and contractual obligations.
241This license does not, however, permit GitHub or its Affiliates to share your Inputs or Outputs with third-party AI model providers for their own independent model training purposes.
242The license in this Section J.3 is in addition to, and does not limit, the rights granted to GitHub and its Affiliates under Sections D.4 and D.8. This license does not extend to Your Content stored in repositories that are not provided as Input to an AI Feature.
243The opt-out right described in this section applies solely to the use of your Inputs and Outputs as described in this section, and does not apply to the license granted in Sections D.4-D.8 or to any Content that does not constitute Input or Output (including Content stored in public repositories). 4.
244Disclaimers Output is provided "as-is" and subject to the disclaimers in Section O.
245Without limiting Section O: Output may be inaccurate, incomplete, or non-functional.
246Output may resemble third-party code, including code under open source licenses.
247We do not guarantee that Output is free of errors, vulnerabilities, or intellectual property claims.
248You are responsible for reviewing, testing, and validating any Output before use. 5.
249Your Responsibility and Indemnity You are responsible for your use of Output, including ensuring it complies with applicable law and does not infringe third-party rights.
250Your indemnity obligations in Section Q apply to your use of AI Features and Output, including claims arising from Output you incorporate into your products or services.
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232Feedback We’re always trying to improve of products and services, and your feedback as a Beta Preview user will help us do that.268Feedback We’re always trying to improve our products and services, and your feedback as a Beta Preview user will help us do that.
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318However, any claim for injunctive relief with respect to a violation of section D.8 may be brought in any jurisdiction. 2.354However, any claim for injunctive relief with respect to a violation of section D.9 may be brought in any jurisdiction. 2.
326Amendments; Complete Agreement This Agreement may only be modified by a written amendment signed by an authorized representative of GitHub, or by the posting by GitHub of a revised version in accordance with Section Q.362Amendments; Complete Agreement This Agreement may only be modified by a written amendment signed by an authorized representative of GitHub, or by the posting by GitHub of a revised version in accordance with Section R.
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