Your Services Agreement and Privacy Statement made clearer
Read the Microsoft Services Agreement
Read the Microsoft Privacy Statement
We are updating the Microsoft Services Agreement, which applies to your use of Microsoft consumer online products and services. We’re making these updates to clarify our terms and ensure that they remain transparent for you, as well as to cover additional Microsoft products, services and features.
These updates, which are summarised below, will take effect on 15 September 2016. If you continue to use our products or services on or after15 September 2016, you are agreeing to the updated terms of the Microsoft Services Agreement.
We are also updating the Microsoft Privacy Statement. These updates are described below, and are effective as of 2 August 2016.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Microsoft Services Agreement?
The Microsoft Services Agreement is an agreement between you and Microsoft (or one of its affiliates) that governs your use of Microsoft consumer online products and services. You can see a full list of the covered products and services here.
Which products and services are not covered by the Microsoft Services Agreement?
The Microsoft Services Agreement does not apply to products and services dedicated to business customers, including Office 365 for business, education or government customers, Azure, Yammer or Skype for Business. For commitments regarding security, privacy and compliance as well as related information that applies to Office 365 for business, please visit the Office 365 Trust Centre at http://trust.office365.com.
What are the changes Microsoft is making to the Microsoft Services Agreement?
To see all of the changes, we recommend you read the full Microsoft Services Agreement.
Here are some of the most notable changes to the Microsoft Services Agreement:
Are parents still responsible for their children's activity and purchases?
Yes. Section 4(a)(iii) of the Microsoft Services Agreement states that parents are responsible for Microsoft account, Skype account and Services usage by their minor children, including any subscription fees and purchases. Some of our services require payment, such as applications and games available through our Windows, Xbox or Office app stores, ad-free Outlook.com, OneDrive extra storage or an Office 365 consumer subscription. Microsoft family offers parents solutions for understanding how their children use their devices and setting boundaries. For more information on Microsoft family, please visit the Family Dashboard.
When do these terms take effect?
The updates to the Microsoft Services Agreement will take effect on 15 September 2016. Until that time, your current terms remain in effect.
How do I accept these terms?
By using or accessing our products or services on or after 15 September 2016, you are agreeing to the updated Microsoft Services Agreement. If you do not agree, you can choose to discontinue using the products and services, and close your Microsoft account before 15 September 2016.
What is the Microsoft Privacy Statement?
The Microsoft Privacy Statement explains in detail what personal data we collect from you when you use a Microsoft product or service, the ways we use that data and the systems we have in place to keep your personal information safe.
What are the changes Microsoft is making to the Microsoft Privacy Statement?
We encourage you to read the full Microsoft Privacy Statement so that you’re clear on what data we’re collecting and how we handle it.
Last year, we brought together many separate privacy statements into a single Microsoft Privacy Statement covering most Microsoft consumer offerings. This restructuring was designed to eliminate redundancies, improve usability and increase clarity and transparency. We updated the Microsoft Privacy Statement in October 2015 and January 2016 to further consolidate different privacy notices, improve clarity and describe new product features and functionality.
On 2 August 2016, we will publish additional updates with the same objectives. None of the changes will represent a change in policy or practice for Microsoft. These changes will be summarised on the Change History page available at Updates. Additional information about our ongoing commitment to protecting your privacy is available at https://privacy.microsoft.com.
These changes will take effect on 2 August 2016. If you continue to use our products or services on or after that date, you are agreeing to the updated terms of the Microsoft Privacy Statement.
Does Microsoft share my information with anyone?
Yes, we do share your information in certain cases. We’ve detailed when we share data in the Microsoft Privacy Statement. Broadly, we share your personal data with your consent or as necessary to complete any transaction or provide any service you have requested or authorised. We also share data with Microsoft-controlled affiliates and subsidiaries, with vendors working on our behalf, when required by law or to respond to legal process, to protect our customers, to protect lives, to maintain the security of our services and to protect the rights or property of Microsoft.
Reference:
Frequently Asked Questions
Read the Microsoft Services Agreement
Read the Microsoft Privacy Statement
We are updating the Microsoft Services Agreement, which applies to your use of Microsoft consumer online products and services. We’re making these updates to clarify our terms and ensure that they remain transparent for you, as well as to cover additional Microsoft products, services and features.
These updates, which are summarised below, will take effect on 15 September 2016. If you continue to use our products or services on or after15 September 2016, you are agreeing to the updated terms of the Microsoft Services Agreement.
We are also updating the Microsoft Privacy Statement. These updates are described below, and are effective as of 2 August 2016.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Microsoft Services Agreement?
The Microsoft Services Agreement is an agreement between you and Microsoft (or one of its affiliates) that governs your use of Microsoft consumer online products and services. You can see a full list of the covered products and services here.
Which products and services are not covered by the Microsoft Services Agreement?
The Microsoft Services Agreement does not apply to products and services dedicated to business customers, including Office 365 for business, education or government customers, Azure, Yammer or Skype for Business. For commitments regarding security, privacy and compliance as well as related information that applies to Office 365 for business, please visit the Office 365 Trust Centre at http://trust.office365.com.
What are the changes Microsoft is making to the Microsoft Services Agreement?
To see all of the changes, we recommend you read the full Microsoft Services Agreement.
Here are some of the most notable changes to the Microsoft Services Agreement:
- Coverage for additional services (like GroupMe and Group Messaging) and new functionality and features for covered services (like Skype, Bing and our Rewards programme)
- Clarifications that your work or school account is covered by different terms
- Notice that Xbox now requires that you sign in at least every 5 years to keep your gamertag active
- Explanation of data storage limits for OneDrive and factors that could affect syncing and uploading to OneDrive services
Are parents still responsible for their children's activity and purchases?
Yes. Section 4(a)(iii) of the Microsoft Services Agreement states that parents are responsible for Microsoft account, Skype account and Services usage by their minor children, including any subscription fees and purchases. Some of our services require payment, such as applications and games available through our Windows, Xbox or Office app stores, ad-free Outlook.com, OneDrive extra storage or an Office 365 consumer subscription. Microsoft family offers parents solutions for understanding how their children use their devices and setting boundaries. For more information on Microsoft family, please visit the Family Dashboard.
When do these terms take effect?
The updates to the Microsoft Services Agreement will take effect on 15 September 2016. Until that time, your current terms remain in effect.
How do I accept these terms?
By using or accessing our products or services on or after 15 September 2016, you are agreeing to the updated Microsoft Services Agreement. If you do not agree, you can choose to discontinue using the products and services, and close your Microsoft account before 15 September 2016.
What is the Microsoft Privacy Statement?
The Microsoft Privacy Statement explains in detail what personal data we collect from you when you use a Microsoft product or service, the ways we use that data and the systems we have in place to keep your personal information safe.
What are the changes Microsoft is making to the Microsoft Privacy Statement?
We encourage you to read the full Microsoft Privacy Statement so that you’re clear on what data we’re collecting and how we handle it.
Last year, we brought together many separate privacy statements into a single Microsoft Privacy Statement covering most Microsoft consumer offerings. This restructuring was designed to eliminate redundancies, improve usability and increase clarity and transparency. We updated the Microsoft Privacy Statement in October 2015 and January 2016 to further consolidate different privacy notices, improve clarity and describe new product features and functionality.
On 2 August 2016, we will publish additional updates with the same objectives. None of the changes will represent a change in policy or practice for Microsoft. These changes will be summarised on the Change History page available at Updates. Additional information about our ongoing commitment to protecting your privacy is available at https://privacy.microsoft.com.
These changes will take effect on 2 August 2016. If you continue to use our products or services on or after that date, you are agreeing to the updated terms of the Microsoft Privacy Statement.
Does Microsoft share my information with anyone?
Yes, we do share your information in certain cases. We’ve detailed when we share data in the Microsoft Privacy Statement. Broadly, we share your personal data with your consent or as necessary to complete any transaction or provide any service you have requested or authorised. We also share data with Microsoft-controlled affiliates and subsidiaries, with vendors working on our behalf, when required by law or to respond to legal process, to protect our customers, to protect lives, to maintain the security of our services and to protect the rights or property of Microsoft.
Reference:
Frequently Asked Questions
