Acceptable Use Policy
Also called: AUP · Acceptable Use Clause
An acceptable use policy sets out what a user is and isn't permitted to do on a platform or service — prohibiting things like illegal content, abuse of other users, or attempts to circumvent security. Breach of it typically gives the provider grounds to suspend or terminate access.
In more detail
An AUP exists to protect the platform itself, not just the individual relationship with one user — the provider needs the ability to act against behaviour that threatens other users, infrastructure, or the provider's own legal exposure.
The clause is only as useful as its enforcement mechanism. A well-drafted AUP states clearly what triggers a violation, what the provider can do about it (warning, suspension, termination), and whether that action requires notice or can happen immediately for serious breaches.
Generic, copy-pasted AUP language is common and rarely matches what a specific product actually needs — a marketplace platform and a content-hosting platform face very different misuse risks, and the policy should reflect the actual product.
A user attempts to scrape a platform's data at scale, violating the AUP's prohibition on automated access. The clause gives the provider the right to suspend the account immediately, without the notice period that would otherwise apply to a standard breach.
What our lawyers check
- Whether prohibited conduct is specific to the actual product, not generic boilerplate
- What enforcement actions are available, and whether they require notice
- Whether the policy can be changed unilaterally, and how users are notified
- How it interacts with the broader termination clause
Contracts where this clause matters
Related terms
This definition is general information about commercial contracting practice, not legal advice. How a clause operates depends on the specific wording of your agreement and the law that governs it. For advice on your contract, have it reviewed by a lawyer.
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