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
The approval mechanism establishes a gating control on API access that allows Cohere to evaluate proposed applications against its acceptable use standards. This procedural requirement operates as a condition precedent to API access rather than a post-hoc monitoring mechanism.
Interpretive note: The policy does not specify the criteria Cohere uses to approve or deny use cases, creating ambiguity about what level of harm documentation is sufficient.
The updated policy removes all substantive acceptable use requirements that were previously posted and enforceable. Users no longer have a referenced standard defining what conduct is prohibited on the platform. The removal of enforcement procedures means users cannot verify what conduct may trigger access restriction, suspension, or termination. The elimination of the child safety and sexually explicit content prohibitions from the posted policy creates uncertainty about whether these protections remain in effect through other terms or have been abandoned.
View change record →Developers cannot commence API usage until completing and receiving approval for a use case submission. The terms establish an affirmative obligation to document application design and potential harms as a prerequisite to service access.
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"Developers must outline and get approval for their use case to access the Cohere API, understanding the models and limitations. They should refer to model cards for detailed information and document potential harms of their application.— Excerpt from Cohere's Cohere Usage Policy
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The approval mechanism establishes a gating control on API access that allows Cohere to evaluate proposed applications against its acceptable use standards. This procedural requirement operates as a condition precedent to API access rather than a post-hoc monitoring mechanism.
Developers cannot commence API usage until completing and receiving approval for a use case submission. The terms establish an affirmative obligation to document application design and potential harms as a prerequisite to service access.
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