You cannot use AWS infrastructure to copy, distribute, or share content that belongs to someone else without permission — this includes pirated software, movies, music, or other copyrighted material.
Developers and businesses hosting or distributing content on AWS must verify they have the legal right to use all software, data, and content stored on AWS infrastructure, as IP violations can result in immediate account termination, DMCA takedown obligations, and civil litigation exposure.
Cross-platform context
See how other platforms handle Prohibition on Intellectual Property Infringement and similar clauses.
Compare across platforms →Businesses using AWS for content distribution, software hosting, or AI model training must ensure their content and model training data do not infringe third-party intellectual property rights, or they face both AWS account termination and civil copyright liability.
1) REGULATORY FRAMEWORK: This provision implements obligations under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA, 17 U.S.C. § 512), which provides safe harbor protections for platforms that respond to takedown notices but imposes obligations on AWS as a service provider. The Copyright Act (17 U.S.C. § 101 et seq.) governs infringement liability. EU equivalents include the Digital Single Market Copyright Directive (2019/790/EU) Articles 17-18, which impose upload filter obligations on certain platforms. Patent infringement (35 U.S.C. § 271) and trademark infringement (15 U.S.C. § 1114) are also implicated. Primary enforcement authorities are US district courts and the Copyright Office; EU enforcement is through national courts and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). 2)
Compliance intelligence locked
Regulatory citations, enforcement risk, and due diligence action items.
Watcher: regulatory citations. Professional: full compliance memo.