Key Facts
Does Google Cloud require itself to notify the customer at least 12 months before discontinuing any Service?
Google Cloud requires itself to notify the customer at least 12 months before discontinuing any Service or associated material functionality.
Does Google Cloud require the customer to defend Google and indemnify them against Indemnified Liabilities in Third-Party Legal Proceedings?
Google Cloud requires the customer to defend Google and its Affiliates and indemnify them against Indemnified Liabilities in any Third-Party Legal Proceeding to the extent arising from any Customer Application, Project, Customer Data, or Customer Brand Features, or from the customer's or an End User's use of the Services in breach of the AUP.
Is the customer's obligation to pay all Fees cancellable?
Google Cloud establishes that the customer's obligation to pay all Fees is non-cancellable unless required by law.
Is the customer's obligation to pay all Fees non-cancellable unless required by law?
Google Cloud establishes that the customer's obligation to pay all Fees is non-cancellable unless required by law.
Who retains all Intellectual Property Rights in Customer Data and Customer Applications?
Google Cloud establishes that, as between the parties, the customer retains all Intellectual Property Rights in Customer Data and Customer Applications.
What does Google Cloud permit the customer to integrate into any Customer Application that has material value independent of the Services?
Google Cloud permits the customer to integrate GCP Services and Looker (original) Services into any Customer Application that has material value independent of the Services.
Can the customer integrate GCP Services and Looker (original) Services into Customer Applications?
Google Cloud permits the customer to integrate GCP Services and Looker (original) Services into any Customer Application that has material value independent of the Services.
What does Google Cloud prohibit the customer from integrating into Customer Applications?
Google Cloud prohibits the customer from integrating Google Workspace Services, SecOps Services, or Cloud Identity Services into Customer Applications or creating or hosting Customer Applications using those Services.
Can the customer integrate Google Workspace Services, SecOps Services, or Cloud Identity Services into Customer Applications?
Google Cloud prohibits the customer from integrating Google Workspace Services, SecOps Services, or Cloud Identity Services into Customer Applications or creating or hosting Customer Applications using those Services.
Does Google Cloud require itself to defend the customer against allegations that any Service infringes a third party's Intellectual Property Rights?
Google Cloud requires itself to defend the customer and its Affiliates and indemnify them against Indemnified Liabilities in any Third-Party Legal Proceeding to the extent arising from an allegation that any Service or any Google Brand Feature infringes the third party's Intellectual Property Rights.
Summary
This document sets out the rules for using Google Cloud services: you keep ownership of your data and applications, but Google Cloud can change its prices at any time unless you have a written agreement locking them in, and your obligation to pay cannot be cancelled. If you or your end users violate the acceptable use policy and don't fix it within 24 hours, Google Cloud can suspend your access; and if a third party sues over your data or applications, you are responsible for defending Google.
Analysis
The Google Cloud Terms establish the core rights, obligations, and limitations governing the customer's use of Google Cloud services. Google Cloud retains discretion to change Fees at any time absent a written lock in an addendum or Order Form, while the customer's obligation to pay all Fees is non-cancellable unless law requires otherwise. Customer Data and Customer Applications remain the intellectual property of the customer, and Google Cloud's access to and processing of Customer Data is strictly bounded by the Cloud Data Processing Addendum. The agreement allocates indemnification obligations bilaterally: the customer defends and indemnifies Google against third-party claims arising from Customer Data, applications, brand features, projects, or AUP breaches, while Google defends and indemnifies the customer against third-party intellectual property infringement claims concerning Google's own Services or Brand Features. Google Cloud disclaims all warranties to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and reserves the right to suspend services upon an unresolved AUP violation within 24 hours, with a 12-month advance notice obligation before discontinuing any Service or material functionality.
What this means for you
As an individual user or customer, your data and applications remain yours, and Google Cloud is contractually limited to processing your data only as described in the Cloud Data Processing Addendum. However, your fee obligations cannot be cancelled, Google Cloud can change fees at any time without a written lock, and all warranties are disclaimed to the fullest extent the law allows. If Google Cloud's tools detect a potential policy violation, your prompts may be logged and reviewed for that purpose. You should ensure any fee terms important to you are captured in a written addendum or Order Form, as that is the only mechanism the agreement identifies for locking fees.
3 important changes detected
5 versions captured · Last updated: September 2026
What changed
In an update detected on September 3, 2026, Google Cloud expanded the grounds and consequences for billing and service suspension when it determines customers pose financial or behavioral risks. The revised terms now allow Google to bill for the full month's usage if it detects what it calls 'Customer Malfeasance' (bad-faith dealing, dishonesty, or attempts to avoid fees or circumvent usage limits), charge full-month fees for all end-user accounts active in that month regardless of whether some were disabled, and suspend services not just for late payment but also when using delayed payment methods and Google reasonably determines non-payment risk. The agreement also permits immediate termination if Google determines a material breach by the customer is incapable of being cured, without requiring a 30-day cure period.
Why this matters
The updated terms authorize Google Cloud to impose full-month billing charges if it determines a customer engaged in bad-faith dealing, dishonesty, or attempted to avoid fees or circumvent usage limits, and to charge for all end-user accounts active during that month regardless of whether any were later disabled. The revised policy also permits immediate service suspension if Google reasonably determines a customer using a delayed payment method poses a non-payment risk, without requiring actual late payment or cure time. Additionally, Google may now terminate the agreement immediately if it reasonably determines a customer's material breach is incapable of being cured, eliminating the previous 30-day cure period. Customers using bank transfers or similar delayed authorization payment methods should review their account practices for any activity Google might classify as 'Customer Malfeasance' under the new definition.
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What changed
Google Cloud added language to its Terms of Service on June 22, 2026 clarifying that the main terms do not apply to Starter Tier resources. Instead, a separate 'Starter Tier Additional Terms of Service' document governs all resources in Starter Tier projects. This means users accessing Starter Tier resources operate under a different set of terms than those purchasing standard Cloud services.
Why this matters
The updated terms clarify that users of Google Cloud's Starter Tier operate under a separate terms document rather than the main Google Cloud Terms of Service. This organizational change establishes which agreement governs Starter Tier resources, but does not alter substantive protections or obligations unless the Starter Tier Additional Terms contain different provisions. Users should review the Starter Tier Additional Terms to understand what rights and obligations apply to their Starter Tier projects.
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June 2, 2026
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Google Cloud updated its Terms of Service on June 2, 2026 to expand the definition of 'Fee Accrual Period' to include Google Workspace Services (GWS Services) alongside Google Cloud Platform …
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Archival ProvenanceSource & Archival Record
Last Captured
September 11, 2026 01:18 UTC
Capture Method
Automated scheduled archival capture
Document ID
CA-D-000646
Version ID
CA-V-006834
SHA-256
8d0eb8ed56e9072d9639db32e20f671800b20d32d99d40520b2e398bbefae610
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