Provision record
Substack · Substack Terms of Use · View original document ↗

License to Substack for Operating Platform

High severity High confidence Explicit document language Common · 256 of 352 platforms

Key Facts

What does Substack require users to grant it a license to do with the user's Posts?
Substack requires users to grant it a license to translate, modify, reproduce, and otherwise act with respect to the user's Posts to enable Substack to provide, improve, and notify the user about new features within Substack.
Does Substack require users to grant it a license to translate, modify, reproduce, and otherwise act with respect to the user's Posts to enable Substack to provide, improve, and notify the user about new features?
Substack requires users to grant it a license to translate, modify, reproduce, and otherwise act with respect to the user's Posts to enable Substack to provide, improve, and notify the user about new features within Substack.
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This analysis describes what Substack'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 license permits Substack to alter and reproduce user Posts—not merely display them—which means Substack can change the form or presentation of user content as part of platform operations.

Interpretive note: The phrase 'otherwise act with respect to your Posts' is broad and its full scope is not defined in this excerpt. The canonical claim reproduces the language without interpreting that phrase beyond what is stated.

Clause Stability Stable

0
Changes
4
Months Monitored
Jul 10, 2026
First Seen
Jul 10, 2026
Last Seen
This clause type exists across 2585 other provisions on other platforms.

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

Users permit Substack to translate, modify, reproduce, and otherwise act on their Posts for the purposes of providing and improving the platform and notifying users about new features.

How other platforms handle this

Leonardo AI Medium

This right cannot be passed on or transferred to any other person and, if you have a Subscription, will also be subject to the conditions of your Subscription.

ActiveCampaign Medium

You hereby grant ActiveCampaign a nonexclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, fully-paid, and sub-licensable license to use your name and any of your trade names, trademarks, logos and other proprietary marks or words pursuant to this Section.

Tinder Medium

Tinder grants you a personal, worldwide, royalty-free, non-assignable, non-exclusive, revocable, and non-sublicensable license to access and use our Services for purposes as intended by Tinder and permitted by these Terms and applicable laws.

See all platforms with this clause type →
▸ View Original Clause Language DOCUMENT RECORD
"
You hereby grant Substack a license to translate, modify, reproduce, and otherwise act with respect to your Posts to enable us to provide, improve, and notify you about new features within Substack.

Excerpt from Substack's Terms of Use

Applicable regulations

DMCA
United States Federal

Provision details

Document information
Document
Substack Terms of Use
Entity
Substack
Document last updated
May 5, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
May 21, 2026
Last verified
May 21, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-029269
Document ID
CA-D-00177
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
Content hash (SHA-256)
d2d135642274ee5eac38277ac41a146ef9980ab32b5eaa9fe939658be5f65972
Analysis generated
May 21, 2026 01:31 UTC
Methodology
Evidence
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Hash verified
Citation Record
Entity: Substack
Document: Substack Terms of Use
Record ID: CA-P-029269
Captured: 2026-05-21 01:31:22 UTC
SHA-256: d2d135642274ee5e…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/substack/substack-terms-of-use/provision/CA-P-029269/license-to-substack-for-operating-platform/
Accessed: Aug. 18, 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 Substack's License to Substack for Operating Platform clause do?

The license permits Substack to alter and reproduce user Posts—not merely display them—which means Substack can change the form or presentation of user content as part of platform operations.

How does this clause affect you?

Users permit Substack to translate, modify, reproduce, and otherwise act on their Posts for the purposes of providing and improving the platform and notifying users about new features.

How many platforms have this type of clause?

ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 256 platforms. See the full comparison.

Is ConductAtlas affiliated with Substack?

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