AWS Customer Agreement

The AWS Customer Agreement governs the relationship between Amazon Web Services and its customers, establishing the contractual basis under which AWS provides cloud computing services including compute, storage, networking, AI, and related offerings. The agreement states that customers are responsible for all activity occurring under their accounts, that AWS may modify service pricing and terms with notice, and that customers retain ownership of their content while granting AWS a license to use that content solely to provide the services. Notable provisions include a limitation of liability capping AWS's aggregate liability at the fees paid by the customer in the twelve months preceding the claim, a broad indemnification obligation requiring customers to defend AWS against third-party claims arising from customer content or use of the services, and the right of AWS to suspend services immediately for acceptable use policy violations without advance notice. The agreement engages GDPR and other regional data protection frameworks through its Data Processing Addendum structure, the FTC Act's consumer protection framework, and potentially HIPAA for customers storing protected health information; applicability of specific frameworks depends on the customer's industry, geography, and the nature of data processed on AWS infrastructure. Compliance teams should note that the governing law is Washington State law with disputes subject to binding arbitration for certain claim types, and that the agreement incorporates by reference a large body of service-specific terms, acceptable use policies, and privacy notices that materially expand the operative obligations.