Get the weekly research letter
Companies change their terms quietly. We read every version and catch what actually changed. One email a week on the changes that matter and what they mean. No account.
The terms prohibit using DocuSign's site, architectures, models, weights, content, data, or outputs to train, test, or improve any machine learning algorithm or AI system that performs functions substantially similar to DocuSign's services.
This analysis describes what DocuSign'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 restricts use of any data or outputs derived from DocuSign's services to develop or improve competing AI systems. The prohibition extends to indirect use through third parties and covers architectures, models, weights, and all derived information, which may affect customers who independently develop AI tools using DocuSign-related data.
Interpretive note: The scope of what constitutes a function substantially similar to DocuSign's services is not precisely defined, creating ambiguity in the provision's application to specific AI development activities.
Under this clause, customers and users are prohibited from using data, outputs, or other information derived from DocuSign's site to train or improve AI or machine learning systems that perform functions substantially similar to DocuSign's services. This restriction applies both to direct use and to permitting third parties to do so.
Cross-platform context
See how other platforms handle AI and Competitive Use Restrictions and similar clauses.
Compare across platforms →Monitoring
DocuSign has changed this document before.
Receive same-day alerts, structured change summaries, and monitoring for up to 20 platforms.
"Uses, or allows third parties to use, the Site (including any architectures, models, or weights which is considered our confidential and proprietary information, or any content, data, output, or other information received or derived from the Site, to directly or indirectly create, train, test, or otherwise improve any machine learning algorithm or artificial intelligence system that mimics or performs any function substantially similar to any function of the Site; orExcerpt from DocuSign's Terms and Conditions
(1) REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: Restrictions on use of platform outputs for AI training engage intellectual property law, trade secret law, and competition law. Broad restrictions on use of platform outputs for AI development may interact with fair use doctrines and, in the EU, with the text and data mining exceptions under the Copyright Directive. Competition authorities in the EU and UK have increasing interest in restrictive terms in platform agreements that may limit competition. (2) GOVERNANCE EXPOSURE: Medium. The prohibition on using DocuSign outputs to develop AI systems that are substantially similar is operationally broad and may affect customers engaged in internal AI development who work with DocuSign-related data. The scope of what constitutes a function substantially similar to DocuSign's services is not precisely defined in the excerpt provided. (3) JURISDICTION FLAGS: EU competition law and the Digital Markets Act may engage where such restrictions are applied by a dominant platform. UK competition law similarly scrutinizes restrictive terms in platform agreements. The trade secret and confidential information characterization of architectures and model weights may be assessed differently across jurisdictions. (4) CONTRACT AND VENDOR IMPLICATIONS: Enterprise customers with internal AI or ML development programs should assess whether any use of DocuSign-derived data falls within this restriction. Third-party integrations or vendor relationships involving DocuSign data and AI development should be reviewed against this prohibition. (5) COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS: Legal teams should assess whether internal AI development workflows that incorporate any DocuSign outputs or data would trigger this restriction. The definition of substantially similar functions should be evaluated in the context of the specific AI use cases involved.
Regulatory citations, enforcement risk, and due diligence action items.
Provision-level monitoring, governance timelines, and regulatory mapping built from archived source documents and historical version tracking.
This provision restricts use of any data or outputs derived from DocuSign's services to develop or improve competing AI systems. The prohibition extends to indirect use through third parties and covers architectures, models, weights, and all derived information, which may affect customers who independently develop AI tools using DocuSign-related data.
Under this clause, customers and users are prohibited from using data, outputs, or other information derived from DocuSign's site to train or improve AI or machine learning systems that perform functions substantially similar to DocuSign's services. This restriction applies both to direct use and to permitting third parties to do so.
No. ConductAtlas is an independent monitoring service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by DocuSign.