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The document states that Cohere reserves the right to restrict API access at any time for use cases that violate its Usage Guidelines and Terms of Use, without specifying a notice period, cure window, or appeals process.
This analysis describes what Cohere'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 establishes a unilateral right for Cohere to terminate or restrict API access without a defined procedural mechanism, which creates operational continuity risk for enterprise customers and developers who depend on Cohere's API for production applications.
Interpretive note: The practical scope of this provision depends on whether Cohere's separate customer agreements establish notice or cure procedures that supplement this model card language, which is not reproduced here.
Under this clause, Cohere may restrict API access for any violation of the Usage Guidelines or Terms of Use at any time. The document does not describe a notice period, cure opportunity, or formal appeals mechanism associated with this right.
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"Each of these malicious use cases violates our Usage Guidelines and Terms of Use, and Cohere reserves the right to restrict API access at any time.Excerpt from Cohere's Responsible Use Policy
1. REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: The FTC Act's prohibition on unfair or deceptive practices may be relevant if API access is restricted without adequate notice in consumer-affecting contexts. Depending on jurisdiction, contract law principles may impose implied notice or good faith obligations not stated in this document. The EU's Digital Markets Act may also engage for certain platform-scale API providers, though applicability depends on Cohere's designation status. 2. GOVERNANCE EXPOSURE: Medium. The provision asserts a broad termination right without procedural constraints. Enterprise customers with operational dependencies on the API should assess whether Cohere's separate customer agreements contain more specific notice, cure, or SLA terms that supplement this model card language. 3. JURISDICTION FLAGS: EU and EEA customers may benefit from additional contractual protections under applicable commercial law that could limit the practical exercise of a fully unilateral termination right. California and UK commercial law may similarly impose good faith obligations. The enforceability of a fully unilateral, no-notice termination right varies by jurisdiction. 4. CONTRACT AND VENDOR IMPLICATIONS: Procurement teams should identify whether Cohere's master service agreement or customer contract contains service-level commitments, notice periods, or cure windows that modify this provision. The model card alone does not provide sufficient contractual certainty for mission-critical deployments. Vendor risk assessments should account for the absence of a described appeals process. 5. COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS: Legal teams should review Cohere's customer agreement for any SLA provisions that contradict or supplement the model card's unqualified termination right. Business continuity plans for applications dependent on the Cohere API should account for the possibility of access restriction without advance notice as stated in this document.
This provision establishes a unilateral right for Cohere to terminate or restrict API access without a defined procedural mechanism, which creates operational continuity risk for enterprise customers and developers who depend on Cohere's API for production applications.
Under this clause, Cohere may restrict API access for any violation of the Usage Guidelines or Terms of Use at any time. The document does not describe a notice period, cure opportunity, or formal appeals mechanism associated with this right.
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