Any legal dispute with YouTube must be brought in courts in Santa Clara County, California, and California law applies, regardless of where you live in the world.
This analysis describes what YouTube Ads'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
For international users, including the Vietnamese users indicated by this document's country code, this clause creates a significant practical barrier to pursuing legal claims, as litigation in California is prohibitively expensive and logistically difficult for most individuals.
Interpretive note: Enforceability varies significantly by jurisdiction; EU, UK, and Vietnamese consumer protection law may render this clause inapplicable to consumers in those regions.
Users outside the United States, and particularly those in Vietnam where this document version appears to be served, face a substantial practical barrier to legal recourse because any dispute must be litigated in California courts under California law.
How other platforms handle this
In the EU and EEA, the choice of Texas governing law shall not apply only where a mandatory consumer protection law explicitly prohibits such choice of law provisions.
For any claims that are not subject to arbitration...U.S. Residents: Delaware law; venue exclusively in the state or federal courts in New Castle County, Delaware
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of California and the United States without regard to conflicts of laws provisions
"All claims arising out of or relating to these terms or the Service will be governed by California law, except California's conflict of laws rules, and will be litigated exclusively in the federal or state courts of Santa Clara County, California, USA. You and YouTube consent to personal jurisdiction in those courts.Excerpt from YouTube Ads's YouTube Terms of Service
(1) REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: Exclusive forum selection clauses in consumer contracts are subject to enforceability scrutiny in multiple jurisdictions.
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For international users, including the Vietnamese users indicated by this document's country code, this clause creates a significant practical barrier to pursuing legal claims, as litigation in California is prohibitively expensive and logistically difficult for most individuals.
Users outside the United States, and particularly those in Vietnam where this document version appears to be served, face a substantial practical barrier to legal recourse because any dispute must be litigated in California courts under California law.
ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 266 platforms. See the full comparison.
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