Creators and fans grant Patreon a royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, sublicensable, worldwide license to use, reproduce, distribute, translate, and prepare derivative works from all content posted to the platform, in all formats now known or later developed. The license also covers personal data embedded in creations, with Patreon asserting a GDPR legitimate interest basis for that processing.
This analysis describes what Patreon'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 establishes a content license that survives account deletion due to its perpetual and irrevocable terms, and extends to sublicensable derivative works in all future formats. The explicit invocation of GDPR legitimate interest as a basis for processing personal data within creator content creates a distinct legal basis claim that EU and UK data protection authorities may evaluate against the substantive legitimate interest balancing test.
Under this clause, content posted to Patreon remains licensed to the platform on a perpetual and irrevocable basis even if a creator deletes their account, and Patreon retains the right to sublicense and prepare derivative works from that content. The agreement asserts GDPR legitimate interest as the legal basis for processing personal data contained within posted creations.
Cross-platform context
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Compare across platforms →"By making creations available on Patreon or otherwise posting on Patreon, you grant us a royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, non-exclusive, sublicensable, worldwide license covering your imports, creations, and what you post in all formats and channels now known or later developed anywhere in the world to use, copy, reproduce, store, translate, transmit, distribute, perform, prepare derivative works, publicly display, and display in connection with any name, username, voice, or likeness provided in connection with it. If your creations contain any personal data, you also recognize Patreon's "legitimate interest" in it in accordance with the scope of this license.Excerpt from Patreon's Terms of Use
(1) REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: The explicit invocation of GDPR Article 6(1)(f) legitimate interest as a processing basis for personal data embedded in creator content requires that Patreon conduct and be able to demonstrate a legitimate interest …
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This provision establishes a content license that survives account deletion due to its perpetual and irrevocable terms, and extends to sublicensable derivative works in all future formats. The explicit invocation of GDPR legitimate interest as a basis for processing personal data within creator content creates a distinct legal basis claim that EU and UK data protection authorities may evaluate against …
Under this clause, content posted to Patreon remains licensed to the platform on a perpetual and irrevocable basis even if a creator deletes their account, and Patreon retains the right to sublicense and prepare derivative works from that content. The agreement asserts GDPR legitimate interest as the legal basis for processing personal data contained within posted creations.
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