OpenAI · OpenAI Business Terms · View original document ↗

Fees are non-refundable except as required by law

High severity High confidence Explicitdocumentlanguage Common · 180 of 352 platforms
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Recent governance activity OpenAI recorded 14 documented changes in the last 30 days.
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This analysis describes what OpenAI'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)

The default non-refundability rule means payments are lost upon cancellation or termination unless a specific legal or contractual exception applies.

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

You generally cannot obtain a refund of fees paid, unless required by law or a specific Agreement provision expressly permits it.

How other platforms handle this

Microsoft Copilot Medium

Once you redeem your Points, you cannot cancel or return the Redemption Option for a refund of Points except in the case of defective products or as required by applicable law.

Instacart Medium

Service fees are generally not refundable for returned items. If your order is refunded, we may issue a refund, replacement, or credit at our discretion.

Upwork Medium

No refunds of fees already paid will be given. Clients may opt out of the Direct Contract program or cancel a Service Contract...however Upwork will not refund any fees for Service Contracts that were considered active at any time in the month prior to the charge.

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▸ View Original Clause Language DOCUMENT RECORD
"
Fees are non-refundable except as required by law or as otherwise specifically permitted in the Agreement.

— Excerpt from OpenAI's OpenAI Business Terms

Applicable regulations

FTC Act Section 5
United States Federal

Provision details

Document information
Document
OpenAI Business Terms
Entity
OpenAI
Document last updated
May 11, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
July 9, 2026
Last verified
July 9, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-059993
Document ID
CA-D-00755
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
Content hash (SHA-256)
d94c426a41263f7d81583f26a9f1dc6ca88a070174a55e9238c4e7d25a8f6604
Analysis generated
July 9, 2026 03:44 UTC
Methodology
Evidence
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Hash verified
Citation Record
Entity: OpenAI
Document: OpenAI Business Terms
Record ID: CA-P-059993
Captured: 2026-07-09 03:44:03 UTC
SHA-256: d94c426a41263f7d…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/openai/openai-business-terms/provision/CA-P-059993/fees-are-non-refundable-except-as-required-by-law/
Accessed: July 13, 2026
Permanent archival reference. Stable identifier suitable for legal filings, compliance documentation, and research citation.
Classification
Severity
High
Categories

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does OpenAI's Fees are non-refundable except as required by law clause do?

The default non-refundability rule means payments are lost upon cancellation or termination unless a specific legal or contractual exception applies.

How does this clause affect you?

You generally cannot obtain a refund of fees paid, unless required by law or a specific Agreement provision expressly permits it.

How many platforms have this type of clause?

ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 180 platforms. See the full comparison.

Is ConductAtlas affiliated with OpenAI?

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