The agreement designates California law as governing all disputes and requires all litigation to occur exclusively in federal or state courts in Santa Clara County, California, with users consenting to personal jurisdiction in those courts.
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
This provision requires users located outside California, including international users, to litigate disputes in Santa Clara County, California courts and under California law, which may create practical barriers to pursuing claims depending on the user's location and the nature of the claim.
Interpretive note: Enforceability of the exclusive venue clause against consumers outside California, particularly in the EU and UK, depends on applicable mandatory consumer protection law that may override contractual forum selection.
Under this clause, all legal disputes relating to YouTube or these terms must be litigated in Santa Clara County, California courts, regardless of where the user is located. The agreement requires users to consent to personal jurisdiction in those courts as a condition of using the Service.
How other platforms handle this
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of California, without regard to conflict of laws rules, and the proper venue for any disputes arising out of or relating to any of the same will be the arbitration venue set forth in Section 9, or if arbitration does not apply, then the state and fe...
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
"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
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This provision requires users located outside California, including international users, to litigate disputes in Santa Clara County, California courts and under California law, which may create practical barriers to pursuing claims depending on the user's location and the nature of the claim.
Under this clause, all legal disputes relating to YouTube or these terms must be litigated in Santa Clara County, California courts, regardless of where the user is located. The agreement requires users to consent to personal jurisdiction in those courts as a condition of using the Service.
ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 266 platforms. See the full comparison.
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