If you have a legal dispute with Skillshare, you must resolve it through private arbitration rather than in a public court, and you cannot join a class action lawsuit against them.
Consumer impact (what this means for users)
US-based users lose their right to a jury trial and cannot participate in class action lawsuits against Skillshare, meaning individual consumers must pursue arbitration — a private, often costly process — even for small disputes over fees or account issues.
What you can do
⚠️ These actions may provide transparency or partial mitigation but may not fully address the underlying issue. Effectiveness varies by jurisdiction and individual circumstances.
Opt Out of Arbitration
Within 30 days
Within 30 days of creating your Skillshare account, send an email to legal@skillshare.com with your full name, the email address associated with your account, and a clear statement that you are opting out of the arbitration agreement. Keep a copy of this email for your records.
Cross-platform context
See how other platforms handle Mandatory Binding Arbitration and Class Action Waiver and similar clauses.
This clause removes your ability to sue Skillshare in court or band together with other users in a class action, making it significantly harder and more expensive to pursue small or individual claims.
View original clause language
YOU AND SKILLSHARE AGREE THAT ANY DISPUTE, CLAIM OR CONTROVERSY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THESE TERMS OR THE BREACH, TERMINATION, ENFORCEMENT, INTERPRETATION OR VALIDITY THEREOF OR THE USE OF THE SERVICES (COLLECTIVELY, "DISPUTES") WILL BE SETTLED BY BINDING ARBITRATION, EXCEPT THAT EACH PARTY RETAINS THE RIGHT TO SEEK INJUNCTIVE OR OTHER EQUITABLE RELIEF IN A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION TO PREVENT THE ACTUAL OR THREATENED INFRINGEMENT, MISAPPROPRIATION OR VIOLATION OF A PARTY'S COPYRIGHTS, TRADEMARKS, TRADE SECRETS, PATENTS, OR OTHER INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS. YOU ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT YOU AND SKILLSHARE ARE EACH WAIVING THE RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY OR TO PARTICIPATE AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY PURPORTED CLASS ACTION OR REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING.
REGULATORY FRAMEWORK: This provision implicates the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA, 9 U.S.C. §§1–16) as the governing statute for enforceability; FTC Act Section 5 (15 U.S.C. §45) regarding whether the opt-out mechanism constitutes adequate notice to avoid deceptive practice findings; California Code of Civil Procedure §1281 et seq. regarding arbitration agreement enforceability; and the Consumer Financial Protection Act (CFPA, 12 U.S.C. §5531) to the extent financial services are involved. The FTC and state AGs are primary enforcement authorities.
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Applicable agencies
FTC
The FTC has authority over unfair or deceptive practices under Section 5, including the adequacy of notice for mandatory arbitration opt-out provisions in consumer contracts.
State Attorneys General, particularly in California, have authority to challenge mandatory arbitration clauses and class action waivers in consumer contracts under state consumer protection laws.