What can I do about this clause?

{'method': 'WEB_FORM', 'recipient': 'https://www.docusign.com/privacy', 'difficulty': 'MODERATE', 'action_type': 'DELETE_DATA', 'instructions': "To request deletion of your uploaded documents and personal data, submit a data deletion request through Docusign's privacy portal at docusign.com/privacy. California residents can submit a CCPA request for deletion of personal information contained in uploaded documents.", 'deadline_days': None, 'deadline_hours': None}

Which regulatory agencies enforce this type of clause?

{'agency': 'FTC', 'reason': 'The FTC has authority under Section 5 to investigate overly broad content licenses that use consumer data beyond the reasonable expectations of the service.', 'complaint_url': 'https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/'}, {'agency': 'State_AG', 'reason': "State attorneys general, particularly California's AG and CPPA, can enforce CCPA rights regarding the use of personal information contained in uploaded documents.", 'complaint_url': 'https://www.naag.org/find-my-ag/'}

What is the severity of this clause?

ConductAtlas classifies this User Content License Grant clause as medium severity. Severity reflects the magnitude of rights affected, the breadth of users impacted, and the degree of discretion the platform retains.

Do other platforms have similar clauses?

Yes. ConductAtlas has identified similar User Content License Grant clauses across approximately 10 other tracked platforms. You can compare how platforms differ on this clause type in the cross-platform comparison view.

User Content License Grant — DocuSign

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What it is

When you upload documents or content to Docusign, you give Docusign a broad license to use, copy, and distribute that content — including the right to pass that license to third parties.

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

This clause grants Docusign a royalty-free, sublicensable license over documents you upload — which may include highly sensitive personal or business contracts — raising significant confidentiality and data protection concerns for enterprise and individual users alike.

What you can do

⚠️ These actions may provide transparency or partial mitigation but may not fully address the underlying issue. Effectiveness varies by jurisdiction and individual circumstances.

Delete Your Data

To request deletion of your uploaded documents and personal data, submit a data deletion request through Docusign's privacy portal at docusign.com/privacy. California residents can submit a CCPA request for deletion of personal information contained in uploaded documents.

Cross-platform context

See how other platforms handle User Content License Grant and similar clauses.

Compare across platforms →

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Why it matters (compliance & risk perspective)

Users frequently upload sensitive business contracts, personal agreements, and confidential documents to Docusign; a broad sublicensable content license creates potential exposure for confidential information contained in those documents.

View original clause language

By submitting, posting, or displaying Content on or through the Services, you grant Docusign a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license (with the right to sublicense) to use, copy, reproduce, process, adapt, modify, publish, transmit, display and distribute such Content in any and all media or distribution methods now known or later developed.

Institutional analysis (Compliance & legal intelligence)

1) REGULATORY FRAMEWORK: The content license clause engages GDPR Article 6 (lawful basis), Article 13 (transparency obligations), and Article 28 (processor obligations), as document content may constitute personal data. CCPA §1798.100 applies to California residents' rights over their personal information contained in uploaded documents. Trade secret law (Defend Trade Secrets Act, 18 U.S.C. §1836) is implicated where uploaded documents contain proprietary business information. HIPAA (45 C.F.R. §164) may apply if health information is included in uploaded agreements. 2)

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Applicable agencies

FTC

The FTC has authority under Section 5 to investigate overly broad content licenses that use consumer data beyond the reasonable expectations of the service.
File a complaint →
State AG

State attorneys general, particularly California's AG and CPPA, can enforce CCPA rights regarding the use of personal information contained in uploaded documents.
File a complaint →

Provision details

Document information

Document

DocuSign Terms and Conditions

Entity

DocuSign

Document last updated

April 29, 2026

Tracking information

First tracked

April 27, 2026

Last verified

April 27, 2026

Record ID

CA-P-003529

Document ID

CA-D-00197

Evidence Provenance

Source URL

https://www.docusign.com/company/terms-and-conditions

Wayback Machine

View archived versions →

SHA-256

89c1b94cc9747df4e892bbc39b281464db8f360101bb48d9f68e1e0abad007c6

Verified

✓ Snapshot stored ✓ Change verified

How to Cite

ConductAtlas Policy Archive
Entity: DocuSign | Document: DocuSign Terms and Conditions | Record: CA-P-003529
Captured: 2026-04-27 14:12:49 UTC | SHA-256: 89c1b94cc9747df4…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/docusign/docusign-terms-and-conditions/user-content-license-grant/
Accessed: May 2, 2026

Classification

Severity

Medium

User Content License Grant