Provision record
GitHub · GitHub Acceptable Use Policies · View original document ↗

Intellectual Property Infringement Prohibition

Medium severity High confidence Explicit document language Common · 263 of 352 platforms
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Document Record

What it is

The agreement prohibits posting content that infringes patents, trademarks, trade secrets, copyrights, rights of publicity, or other proprietary rights, covering the full range of intellectual property categories.

This analysis describes what GitHub'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

ConductAtlas Analysis

Why it matters (compliance & governance perspective)

This provision establishes user obligations regarding intellectual property across all content posted to GitHub, and violations may trigger content removal or account suspension under GitHub's DMCA takedown process and the broader AUP enforcement authority.

Clause Stability Stable

0
Changes
3
Months Monitored
May 20, 2026
First Seen
May 22, 2026
Last Seen
This clause type exists across 1689 other provisions on other platforms.

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

Under this clause, users are prohibited from posting content that infringes any intellectual property right, and infringing content is subject to removal under both this policy and GitHub's DMCA takedown procedures. The agreement does not limit this obligation to copyright; it extends to patents, trademarks, trade secrets, and rights of publicity.

How other platforms handle this

Microsoft Medium

Microsoft reserves the right to restrict the export of data that may compromise the security of the services or Microsoft's intellectual property.

Datadog Medium

Datadog reserves the right, but does not assume the obligation, to investigate any violation of these Terms or misuse of the Site.

Mailchimp Medium

Pharmaceutical products

See all platforms with this clause type →
▸ View Original Clause Language DOCUMENT RECORD
"
You may not post any information that infringes or violates someone else's patent, trademark, trade secret, copyright, right of publicity, or other proprietary right.

Excerpt from GitHub's Acceptable Use Policies

ConductAtlas Analysis

Institutional analysis (regulatory & governance intelligence)

1) REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: This provision directly engages the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), under which GitHub operates a notice-and-takedown process.

Insight

Unlock the full institutional analysis

Enforcement risk, jurisdiction flags, contract triggers, and due diligence action items.

Applicable agencies

  • Federal Trade Commission (ftc)
    Oversees unfair or deceptive business practices and can investigate companies that mislead consumers about data collection, sharing, or use.
    Who can file: Anyone affected by the company's practices (US or international)
    What you need: Your account details, a timeline of relevant events, and a description of the specific issue
    What to expect: Complaints inform FTC enforcement priorities and investigations but do not result in individual resolution or compensation
    File a complaint →

Applicable regulations

DSA
European Union

Provision details

Document information
Document
GitHub Acceptable Use Policies
Entity
GitHub
Document last updated
May 12, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
May 20, 2026
Last verified
May 20, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-012415
Document ID
CA-D-00790
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
Content hash (SHA-256)
4cb1cc8f63e15186f39023d0124a0552f90d900ee77625b9086bf67218c19c3e
Analysis generated
May 20, 2026 21:06 UTC
Methodology
Evidence
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Hash verified
Citation Record
Entity: GitHub
Document: GitHub Acceptable Use Policies
Record ID: CA-P-012415
Captured: 2026-05-20 21:06:09 UTC
SHA-256: 4cb1cc8f63e15186…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/github/github-acceptable-use-policies/provision/CA-P-012415/intellectual-property-infringement-prohibition/
Accessed: Sept. 8, 2026
Permanent archival reference. Stable identifier suitable for legal filings, compliance documentation, and research citation.
Classification
Severity
Medium
Categories

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does GitHub's Intellectual Property Infringement Prohibition clause do?

This provision establishes user obligations regarding intellectual property across all content posted to GitHub, and violations may trigger content removal or account suspension under GitHub's DMCA takedown process and the broader AUP enforcement authority.

How does this clause affect you?

Under this clause, users are prohibited from posting content that infringes any intellectual property right, and infringing content is subject to removal under both this policy and GitHub's DMCA takedown procedures. The agreement does not limit this obligation to copyright; it extends to patents, trademarks, trade secrets, and rights of publicity.

How many platforms have this type of clause?

ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 263 platforms. See the full comparison.

Is ConductAtlas affiliated with GitHub?

No. ConductAtlas is an independent monitoring service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by GitHub.