The agreement designates Washington State law as the governing law and establishes exclusive jurisdiction for disputes in state or federal courts in King County, Washington. This applies regardless of where the customer is located or where the dispute arises.
This analysis describes what AWS's agreement states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability and practical outcomes may vary by jurisdiction, enforcement context, and individual circumstances. Read our methodology
This provision requires that disputes be litigated in King County, Washington courts under Washington State law, regardless of the customer's location. Customers outside Washington State or outside the United States face logistical and financial barriers to pursuing litigation under these terms, which is operationally relevant for dispute resolution planning.
Interpretive note: The enforceability of the exclusive King County, Washington jurisdiction clause may vary for EU/EEA customers under GDPR, for customers in jurisdictions with mandatory local jurisdiction rules, and depending on which AWS contracting entity is applicable to the customer's agreement.
Under this clause, any legal dispute with AWS must be pursued in King County, Washington courts under Washington State law. For customers located outside Washington or outside the United States, this may create practical barriers to dispute resolution in local courts under local law; however, applicable law in specific jurisdictions may affect the enforceability of exclusive jurisdiction clauses for local customers.
How other platforms handle this
In the EU and EEA, the choice of Texas governing law shall not apply only where a mandatory consumer protection law explicitly prohibits such choice of law provisions.
For any claims that are not subject to arbitration...U.S. Residents: Delaware law; venue exclusively in the state or federal courts in New Castle County, Delaware
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of California and the United States without regard to conflicts of laws provisions
"The laws of the State of Washington, without reference to conflict of law rules, govern this Agreement and any dispute of any sort that might arise between you and us. Any dispute relating in any way to the Service Offerings or this Agreement will be adjudicated in any state or federal court in King County, Washington, and each party consents to exclusive jurisdiction and venue in those courts.Excerpt from AWS's Customer Agreement
(1) REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: The governing law provision designates Washington State law, which may interact with GDPR requirements for EU/EEA customers, as GDPR disputes involving data subjects' rights may be subject to EU supervisory authority jurisdiction …
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This provision requires that disputes be litigated in King County, Washington courts under Washington State law, regardless of the customer's location. Customers outside Washington State or outside the United States face logistical and financial barriers to pursuing litigation under these terms, which is operationally relevant for dispute resolution planning.
Under this clause, any legal dispute with AWS must be pursued in King County, Washington courts under Washington State law. For customers located outside Washington or outside the United States, this may create practical barriers to dispute resolution in local courts under local law; however, applicable law in specific jurisdictions may affect the enforceability of exclusive jurisdiction clauses for local …
ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 267 platforms. See the full comparison.
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