Stack Overflow Public Network Terms of Service changes — 20260101_rev01

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- To access some of the public Network features you will need to register for an account as an individual and consent to these Public Network Terms. If you do not consent to these Public Network Terms, Stack Overflow reserves the right to refuse, suspend or terminate your access to the public Network.

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- You are solely responsible for ensuring that your account registration is complete and remains up to date. You have the right to discontinue use of, or terminate, your account whenever you like, and subject to our [Privacy Policy](https://stackoverflow.com/legal/privacy-policy), control the use and sharing of your account information. Please note that any content or information you share publicly is governed by the terms described below in the section titled ["Content Permissions, Restrictions, and Creative Commons Licensing,"]() and you should be aware that once you place content in the public sphere, you willingly give up some rights and control over such content.

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- Stack Overflow strongly encourages you to review our [Privacy Policy](https://stackoverflow.com/legal/privacy-policy), which explains how we will handle, process, and use your personal data, and with whom, and how we will share this data.

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- Stack Overflow is a community and we expect you to treat each member of the Stack Overflow community with respect. Whether a community member is asking their first question, or is a reputation superstar, we respect you and welcome you, but we also require you to be kind to one another. To prevent bad actors from creating a negative community experience, we have outlined what we believe to be common sense rules for community participation and reserve the right to pause or terminate your account if you engage in disruptive, abusive, or nefarious behavior outside of Stack Overflow's [Acceptable Use Policy](https://stackoverflow.com/legal/acceptable-use-policy), which is hereby incorporated into these Public Network Terms.

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- You are solely responsible for obtaining and maintaining any equipment or ancillary services needed to connect to or access the Network or otherwise use the Services, including without limitation modems, hardware, software, and long distance or local telephone service. You are solely responsible for ensuring that such equipment or ancillary services are compatible with the Services and Network.

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- Some premium or additional features of Stack Overflow (including without limitation Stack Overflow for Teams) may require a payment obligation for access and use. You are solely responsible for ensuring that your payment obligations, if any, remain current and not in arrears. In the event Stack Overflow charges for features you will be clearly notified of the terms of any payment obligations and provided the opportunity to refuse such obligations before you incur any charges. Please note, however, that your refusal to accept payment obligations may result in your inability to access or use certain premium or additional features of Stack Overflow.

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- Some premium or additional features of Stack Overflow (including without limitation Stack Overflow Internal) may require a payment obligation for access and use. You are solely responsible for ensuring that your payment obligations, if any, remain current and not in arrears. In the event Stack Overflow charges for features you will be clearly notified of the terms of any payment obligations and provided the opportunity to refuse such obligations before you incur any charges. Please note, however, that your refusal to accept payment obligations may result in your inability to access or use certain premium or additional features of Stack Overflow.

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### 6\. Content Permissions, Restrictions, and Creative Commons Licensing

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#### Stack Overflow Content

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All materials displayed or performed on the public Network, including but not limited to text, graphics, logos, tools, photographs, images, illustrations, software or source code, audio and video, and animations (collectively "Network Content") (other than Network Content posted by individual "Subscriber Content") are the property of Stack Overflow and/or third parties and are protected by United States and international copyright laws ("Stack Overflow Content").

14	14	12. [AI Addendum]()
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16	16	By using our products, you agree to our Terms of Service.
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18	18	The Stack Overflow Network is a set of related Internet sites and other applications for questions and answers (also referred to herein as the "Network"), owned and operated by Stack Exchange, Inc. ("Stack Overflow", "we" or "us"), a Delaware corporation. Stack Overflow welcomes you to the Network, the largest community of developers in the world, and invites you to participate in the community by sharing knowledge with your peers and colleagues. Like all communities, we ask that you participate in a manner that respects your fellow community members. To that end, we provide you with these terms of service to advise you of the legal obligations you assume when you engage with the Stack Overflow community or otherwise access or use the public Network or any services provided on the public Network (collectively, "Services"). These terms govern the use of the public Network (the "Public Network Terms").
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20		To the extent you are accessing or using our other products on behalf of a Company or Team, including without limitation by registering for an account on behalf of a Company or Team, your use of those products (such as Stack Overflow for Teams or Stack Overflow Business) is governed by their relevant Terms and Conditions.
	20	To the extent you are accessing or using our other products on behalf of a Company or Team, including without limitation by registering for an account on behalf of a Company or Team, your use of those products (such as Stack Overflow Internal) is governed by their relevant Terms and Conditions.
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22	22	### 1\. Public Network Terms
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24	24	Please read these Public Network Terms carefully before accessing or using the public Network. These Public Network Terms constitute an agreement between Stack Overflow and you and governs your permitted use of the public Network ONLY, including any Services or Products that are part of the public Network. By accessing or using the Services or the public Network in any manner, including without limitation by visiting or browsing the public Network or registering for an account on the Network, you affirm that you have read, understand, and agree to be bound by these Public Network Terms, as well as the [Acceptable Use Policy](https://stackoverflow.com/legal/acceptable-use-policy) and [Privacy Policy](https://stackoverflow.com/legal/privacy-policy). Stack Overflow reserves the right, at its discretion, to modify these Public Network Terms at any time by posting revised Public Network Terms on the public Network and by providing notice via e-mail, where possible, or on the public Network. You shall be responsible for reviewing and becoming familiar with any such modifications. Your access to or use of the Services or public Network following such modification constitutes your acceptance of the terms and conditions of these Public Network Terms as modified. To reiterate, and for clarity, these Public Network Terms apply to all who access or use the Services or public Network, including without limitation users who contribute content, information, and other materials or services, registered or otherwise.
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26	26	PLEASE BE AWARE THAT BY USING THE PUBLIC NETWORK, EXCEPT FOR CERTAIN TYPES OF DISPUTES DESCRIBED IN THE SECTION TITLED "MANDATORY ARBITRATION" BELOW, YOU AGREE THAT ALL DISPUTES BETWEEN YOU AND US WILL BE RESOLVED BY BINDING, INDIVIDUAL ARBITRATION AND YOU WAIVE YOUR RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT OR CLASS-WIDE ARBITRATION.
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46	46	- To access some of the public Network features you will need to register for an account as an individual and consent to these Public Network Terms. If you do not consent to these Public Network Terms, Stack Overflow reserves the right to refuse, suspend or terminate your access to the public Network.
47	47	- You are solely responsible for ensuring that your account registration is complete and remains up to date. You have the right to discontinue use of, or terminate, your account whenever you like, and subject to our [Privacy Policy](https://stackoverflow.com/legal/privacy-policy), control the use and sharing of your account information. Please note that any content or information you share publicly is governed by the terms described below in the section titled ["Content Permissions, Restrictions, and Creative Commons Licensing,"]() and you should be aware that once you place content in the public sphere, you willingly give up some rights and control over such content.
48	48	- Stack Overflow strongly encourages you to review our [Privacy Policy](https://stackoverflow.com/legal/privacy-policy), which explains how we will handle, process, and use your personal data, and with whom, and how we will share this data.
49	49	- Stack Overflow is a community and we expect you to treat each member of the Stack Overflow community with respect. Whether a community member is asking their first question, or is a reputation superstar, we respect you and welcome you, but we also require you to be kind to one another. To prevent bad actors from creating a negative community experience, we have outlined what we believe to be common sense rules for community participation and reserve the right to pause or terminate your account if you engage in disruptive, abusive, or nefarious behavior outside of Stack Overflow's [Acceptable Use Policy](https://stackoverflow.com/legal/acceptable-use-policy), which is hereby incorporated into these Public Network Terms.
50	50	- You are solely responsible for obtaining and maintaining any equipment or ancillary services needed to connect to or access the Network or otherwise use the Services, including without limitation modems, hardware, software, and long distance or local telephone service. You are solely responsible for ensuring that such equipment or ancillary services are compatible with the Services and Network.
51		- Some premium or additional features of Stack Overflow (including without limitation Stack Overflow for Teams) may require a payment obligation for access and use. You are solely responsible for ensuring that your payment obligations, if any, remain current and not in arrears. In the event Stack Overflow charges for features you will be clearly notified of the terms of any payment obligations and provided the opportunity to refuse such obligations before you incur any charges. Please note, however, that your refusal to accept payment obligations may result in your inability to access or use certain premium or additional features of Stack Overflow.
	51	- Some premium or additional features of Stack Overflow (including without limitation Stack Overflow Internal) may require a payment obligation for access and use. You are solely responsible for ensuring that your payment obligations, if any, remain current and not in arrears. In the event Stack Overflow charges for features you will be clearly notified of the terms of any payment obligations and provided the opportunity to refuse such obligations before you incur any charges. Please note, however, that your refusal to accept payment obligations may result in your inability to access or use certain premium or additional features of Stack Overflow.
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53	53	### 6\. Content Permissions, Restrictions, and Creative Commons Licensing
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55	55	#### Stack Overflow Content
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57	57	All materials displayed or performed on the public Network, including but not limited to text, graphics, logos, tools, photographs, images, illustrations, software or source code, audio and video, and animations (collectively "Network Content") (other than Network Content posted by individual "Subscriber Content") are the property of Stack Overflow and/or third parties and are protected by United States and international copyright laws ("Stack Overflow Content").

Public Network Terms of Service

Full text changes — 20251201_rev01 to 20260101_rev01