Terms Changes

Browsewrap Agreement A browsewrap agreement is a set of website terms, usually linked at the bottom of the page, that says you agree just by using the site. Courts are skeptical of them. Changes Effective at Renewal Changes effective at renewal is a contract protection that makes a vendor's new terms apply to you only from your next renewal or order, not in the middle of your current term. Clickwrap Agreement A clickwrap agreement is an online contract you accept by clicking "I agree" or ticking a box next to the terms. Courts typically enforce it when the terms were clearly shown. Continued Use as Acceptance Continued use as acceptance is a contract clause saying that if you keep using a service after its terms change, you have agreed to the new terms, even though you never clicked or signed anything. Contract Amendment A contract amendment is a formal change to a contract that both sides agree to, usually in a short signed document that lists the sections it changes. Effective Date An effective date is the day a contract, or a new version of a vendor's terms or policy, starts to apply to you. It can be later than the date the new version was posted. Grandfathered Terms and Pricing Grandfathered terms and pricing let existing customers keep their old price, plan or terms after a vendor changes them for new customers, usually for a limited time. Last Updated Date A last updated date shows when a vendor last edited a page. It is not the date the rules start to apply, and it does not always move when the text changes. Material Change A material change is a change to a contract or policy significant enough to affect your rights, costs or data, and it is often the kind of change that requires the vendor to warn you in advance. Notice of Changes to Terms A notice of changes is the email or posted message a vendor uses to tell you its terms, privacy policy or other legal documents are changing, and when the new version starts to apply. Retroactive Terms Changes A retroactive terms change applies new contract or privacy rules to the past: to disputes that already began, or to data a vendor collected under older, stricter promises. Right to Reject Changes A right to reject changes lets you refuse a vendor's new terms, usually by ending the contract early with a refund of prepaid fees, instead of being bound by them. Sign-In Wrap A sign-in wrap is a signup or login screen that says creating an account or continuing means you accept the terms, without an "I agree" box. Courts treat it as a gray zone. Sole Discretion Sole discretion means one side, usually the vendor, decides a matter alone using its own judgment, such as when to suspend you, change terms or treat your usage as excessive. Terms of Service Version History A terms of service version history is a dated record of every past version of a vendor's terms, so you can see what applied on a given day and what changed between versions. Unilateral Amendment Clause A unilateral amendment clause lets a vendor change its contract terms on its own, without your signature, usually by posting a new version and sometimes by emailing you.