Merchants are required to indemnify Shopify, its affiliates, officers, directors, agents, employees, and partners against any third-party claims, including attorneys' fees, arising from the merchant's breach of the terms, violation of law, or any aspect of the merchant-customer transaction, including alleged consumer protection law violations.
This analysis describes what Shopify'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 indemnification clause requires merchants to cover Shopify's legal costs and liability arising from merchant-customer transactions, including third-party claims alleging consumer protection law violations. The breadth of category (c) means that disputes between a merchant and their customers that result in regulatory action or civil claims can trigger indemnification obligations to Shopify.
The updated terms clarify the legal identity of the Shopify entity you contract with and establish which courts have exclusive jurisdiction to resolve disputes, depending on your store's billing address. Previously, the terms specified exclusive jurisdiction by region (Ontario for US/Canada, Singapore for Asia Pacific, Ireland for EMEA and other areas). The revised structure presents this information in a table format and adds explicit language stating that disputes can only be brought in the courts listed for your region, with those courts having exclusive jurisdiction. Shopify Inc. may act as a billing agent for other Shopify entities to collect fees and remit taxes in some jurisdictions. You can review the contracting party and forum table in Section 13 to confirm which entity and courts apply to your store based on your billing address.
View change record →This provision requires merchants to bear the cost of any third-party claims against Shopify arising from the merchant's store operations, transactions, or legal compliance failures, including attorneys' fees. The agreement extends indemnification obligations to Shopify's affiliated entities, officers, and partners.
Cross-platform context
See how other platforms handle Merchant Indemnification for Third-Party Claims and similar clauses.
Compare across platforms →"You agree to indemnify and hold us and (as applicable) our parent, subsidiaries, affiliates, Shopify partners, officers, directors, agents, employees, and suppliers harmless from any claim or demand, including reasonable attorneys' fees, made by any third party due to or arising out of (a) your breach of these Terms of Service or the documents it incorporates by reference (including the AUP); (b) or your violation of any law or the rights of a third party; or (c) any aspect of the transaction between you and your Customer, including but not limited to refunds, fraudulent transactions, alleged or actual violation of applicable laws (including but not limited to Federal and State consumer protection laws), or your breach of the Terms of Service.Excerpt from Shopify's Terms of Service
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This indemnification clause requires merchants to cover Shopify's legal costs and liability arising from merchant-customer transactions, including third-party claims alleging consumer protection law violations. The breadth of category (c) means that disputes between a merchant and their customers that result in regulatory action or civil claims can trigger indemnification obligations to Shopify.
This provision requires merchants to bear the cost of any third-party claims against Shopify arising from the merchant's store operations, transactions, or legal compliance failures, including attorneys' fees. The agreement extends indemnification obligations to Shopify's affiliated entities, officers, and partners.
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