CNN Terms of Use

Content & IP Rights · Permission or license

Content license: non-commercial personal access only; licensed, not sold

The user is only authorized to access and display Content for non-commercial, personal use on compatible devices while accessing the CNN Services, and only as the Terms permit. Access to the Content is licensed, not sold. Terms like 'own', 'purchase', 'sale', 'sell', 'rent' or 'buy' used on the Services do not transfer ownership or any intellectual property rights. The related copyright block confirms that no ownership rights are acquired by downloading copyrighted material.

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You are only authorized to access and display Content for your non-commercial, personal, use on compatible devices when accessing the CNN Services, and only as permitted in these Terms of Use.

ACCESS TO THE CONTENT IS LICENSED AND NOT SOLD TO YOU.

Any use of the terms “own,” “ownership”, “purchase,” “sale,” “sold,” “sell,” “rent” or “buy” on the CNN Services, or in materials related to the CNN Services does not transfer ownership or any intellectual property rights to you.

You acknowledge that you do not acquire any ownership rights by downloading copyrighted material.

Qualifications & exceptions

• The license is limited to non-commercial, personal use on compatible devices.
• Commercial-sounding wording ('purchase', 'buy') does not change the license nature.

Content & IP Rights · Restriction or exception

Prohibited: exploiting the Services; automated gathering/framing

Under the 'you may not' list: the user may not copy, reproduce, distribute, transfer, sell, license, publish, put into a database, display, publicly perform, modify, create derivative works, upload, edit, post, link to, frame, transmit, rent, lease, lend or sublicense or in any way exploit any part of the CNN Services, or attempt to interfere with its operation; and may not use data mining, robots or other automated data-gathering, scraping or extraction tools on the Services, or frame any portion of the Services.

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copy, reproduce, distribute, transfer, sell, license, publish, enter into a database, display, perform publicly, modify, create derivative works, upload, edit, post, link to, frame, transmit, rent, lease, lend or sublicense or in any way exploit any part of the CNN Services, or attempt to interfere with the operation of the CNN Services;

use any data mining, robots, or other automated data gathering, scraping, or extraction tools on the CNN Services, or frame any portion of the CNN Services;

Qualifications & exceptions

• The ban covers 'any part of the CNN Services', not only Content.
• 'Or attempt to interfere with the operation' adds interference to the prohibited conduct.

Content & IP Rights · Restriction or exception

Prohibited: AI/ML training extraction; fair-use-defense waiver

The user may not extract any Content or data, by automated means or otherwise, as inputs to construct any kind of database, or for the purpose of training any AI algorithm, system, model or tool, any large language or machine learning model, or any similar technology. The user also irrevocably and knowingly waives the right to assert any fair use defense related to such AI training.

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extract any Content or data, whether by automated means or otherwise, as inputs to construct any kind of database or for the purpose of training any artificial intelligence algorithm, system, model or tool or any large language or machine learning model or any similar technology, and you hereby irrevocably and knowingly waive the right to assert any fair use defense related to any such AI training;

Qualifications & exceptions

• The extraction ban covers both databases and AI/ML/LLM training purposes.
• The fair-use waiver is specifically 'related to any such AI training', i.e., the prohibited training use.

Content & IP Rights · Restriction or exception

Prohibited: reverse engineering and related conduct, including attempts and assistance

The user may not reverse engineer, copy, decompile, disassemble, derive source code of, modify, adapt, capture, reproduce, publicly display or perform, transfer, sell, license, create derivative works from or based upon, republish, upload, edit, post, transmit, distribute, exploit, circumvent or otherwise translate, in whole or in part, the CNN Services or any Content — nor attempt any of that, nor encourage or assist any other person to do it.

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reverse engineer, copy, decompile, disassemble, derive the source code of, modify, adapt, capture, reproduce, publicly display, publicly perform, transfer, sell, license, create derivative works from or based upon, republish, upload, edit, post, transmit, distribute, exploit, circumvent or otherwise translate, in whole or in part, the CNN Services or any Content or attempt, or encourage or assist any other person, to take any of the above action; or

Qualifications & exceptions

• The ban extends to attempts, and to encouraging or assisting others.
• 'In whole or in part' limits the exception; partial conduct is still banned.

Content & IP Rights · Company practice

Interactive Areas and User Content: CNN disclaims responsibility; use at own risk

The CNN Services may contain comments sections or other interactive features, including CNN's user-generated news community ('Interactive Areas'), where users may post or upload content, comments, video, photos, messages or other materials ('User Content'). CNN is not responsible for the reliability, accuracy or truthfulness of User Content and is not responsible for decisions made based on it; it has no control over whether a user finds such content offensive, harmful, inaccurate, deceptive or otherwise unacceptable and expressly disclaims responsibility for it. The user is solely responsible for the use of any Interactive Areas and uses them at their own risk. CNN disclaims responsibility or liability to any person or entity for any loss, damage, injury, claim, liability or other cause of any kind based on or resulting from any User Content.

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AI Features; Interactive Areas; Community Guidelines; Submissions

The CNN Services may contain comments sections or other interactive features, including without limitation CNN’s user-generated news community (collectively, “Interactive Areas”), in which you may post or upload content, comments, video, photos, messages, other materials or items (collectively, “User Content”).

CNN is not responsible for the reliability, accuracy or truthfulness of such User Content, and shall not be responsible for any decisions made based on such User Content.

You are solely responsible for your use of any Interactive Areas, and you use them at your own risk.

CNN disclaims any responsibility or liability to any person or entity for any loss, damage (whether actual, consequential, punitive or otherwise), injury, claim, liability or other cause of any kind or character based upon or resulting from any User Content.

Qualifications & exceptions

• The disclaimer covers decisions made based on other users' User Content, not only the content itself.
• Responsibility lies solely with the user, including harm 'of any kind or character'.

Not stated here

• Any page the quoted material links to is not supplied in this saved source; the card cannot describe what it contains.

Content & IP Rights · Restriction or exception

Submitting content or using services binds user to community guidelines

By submitting any User Content, participating in an Interactive Area within or in connection with the CNN Services, or otherwise accessing and displaying the Services, the user agrees to the community guidelines that follow — a rule set applied to all three of those forms of use, not only to posting.

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By submitting any User Content, participating in an Interactive Area within or in connection with the CNN Services, or otherwise accessing and displaying the CNN Services, you agree that:

You will not upload, post or otherwise transmit any User Content that:

Qualifications & exceptions

• The trigger includes mere access/display of the Services, not only submitting content.

Content & IP Rights · Restriction or exception

Prohibited content: violating others' rights or knowingly false

Users will not upload, post or otherwise transmit User Content that violates or infringes in any way upon the rights of others, including statements which may defame, harass, stalk or threaten others, or content the user knows to be false, misleading or inaccurate.

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violates or infringes in any way upon the rights of others, including any statements which may defame, harass, stalk or threaten others.

you know to be false, misleading or inaccurate.

Qualifications & exceptions

• The rights ban extends beyond formal IP harm to defamation, harassment, stalking and threats.
• 'Know to be false' keys on the user's actual knowledge.

Content & IP Rights · Restriction or exception

Prohibited content: offensive, explicit, unlawful or exploitative material

Users will not upload, post or transmit User Content containing blatant expressions of bigotry, racism, racially or ethnically offensive content, hate speech, abusiveness, vulgarity or profanity; containing or advocating pornography or sexually explicit content, pedophilia, incest, bestiality, or material otherwise obscene or lewd; violating any law, or advocating or providing instruction on dangerous, illegal or predatory acts, or discussing illegal activities with intent to commit them or posing a reasonable threat to personal or public safety; or advocating violent behavior or containing violent images of killing or physical abuse captured solely or principally for exploitive, prurient or gratuitous purposes.

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contains blatant expressions of bigotry, racism, racially or ethnically offensive content, hate speech, abusiveness, vulgarity or profanity.

contains or advocates pornography or sexually explicit content, pedophilia, incest, bestiality, or that is otherwise obscene or lewd.

violates any law or advocates or provides instruction on dangerous, illegal, or predatory acts, or discusses illegal activities with the intent to commit them or poses a reasonable threat to personal or public safety.

advocates violent behavior or contains violent images of killing or physical abuse that appear to have been captured solely, or principally, for exploitive, prurient, or gratuitous purposes.

Qualifications & exceptions

• The law-related rule also bans raising safety threats, not only violations of law.
• The violent-image rule turns on the purpose captured solely or principally exploitative, prurient or gratuitous.

Content & IP Rights · Restriction or exception

Prohibited: IP infringement; user must hold permissions; CNN may bar violators

Users will not upload, post or transmit User Content that infringes or violates any copyright, trademark, trade secret, publicity right or other proprietary right. The user is responsible for holding all necessary rights and permissions for the User Content, and CNN may bar anyone it determines has violated others' intellectual property or proprietary rights from submitting or posting further material on the CNN Services.

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infringes or violates any copyright, trademark, trade secret, publicity right or other proprietary right.

You are responsible for ensuring you have all necessary rights and permissions for your User Content. CNN may bar anyone it determines has violated others’ intellectual property or proprietary rights from submitting or posting further material on the CNN Services.

Qualifications & exceptions

• The determination of a violation sufficient to bar further posting is made by CNN, not by a court.

Content & IP Rights · Restriction or exception

Prohibited: unsolicited advertising and solicitation content

Users will not upload or transmit User Content containing unsolicited or unauthorized advertising or promotional materials for products or services, 'junk mail,' 'spam,' 'chain letters,' 'pyramid schemes,' or any other form of solicitation.

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contains any unsolicited or unauthorized advertising or promotional materials with respect to products or services, “junk mail,” “spam,” “chain letters,” “pyramid schemes,” or any other form of solicitation.

Qualifications & exceptions

• The ban covers both unsolicited and unauthorized materials.

Content & IP Rights · Restriction or exception

Likeness consent required; union-created footage not compensated

The user must have the consent of each identifiable natural person who appears in their User Content to use that person's name or likeness in the manner contemplated by the Services. Any person appearing in User Content who is a current member of SAG, AFTRA or another rights society is not entitled to compensation by CNN.

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You have the consent of each identifiable natural person in any User Content to use such person’s name or likeness in the manner contemplated by the CNN Services.

Any person who appears in your User Content who is a current member of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), the American Federation of Television and Radio Actors (AFTRA) or any other rights society is not entitled to compensation by CNN.

Qualifications & exceptions

• The compensation disclaimer is limited to people appearing in the user's own User Content and to their claims against CNN.

Content & IP Rights · Company practice

CNN may remove/edit/move User Content and monitor Interactive Areas; no added liability

CNN has the right, but not the obligation, to delete, move or edit User Content for any reason in its sole discretion, or to monitor Interactive Areas. To the extent CNN chooses to monitor or modify User Content, that decision does not itself create responsibility or liability for CNN related to the user's use of Interactive Areas.

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CNN has the right, but not the obligation, to delete, move or edit User Content, for any reason in CNN’s sole discretion, or to monitor the Interactive Areas.

The decision by CNN to monitor and/or modify User Content does not constitute, nor shall it be deemed to constitute any responsibility or liability in any manner on the part of CNN in connection with or arising from use by you of Interactive Areas on the CNN Services.

Qualifications & exceptions

• The removal right is discretionary and unconditional: 'for any reason in CNN's sole discretion'.
• Monitoring or editing does not convert CNN into a responsible/publisher role.

Content & IP Rights · Permission or license

Submitting User Content grants CNN a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide license

Submitting User Content to the CNN Services grants CNN and any CNN parent, subsidiary or affiliate a royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, non-exclusive, worldwide right and license, without obligation or payment to the user or any third party, to use, publish, reproduce, modify, adapt, edit, translate, create derivative works from, incorporate into other works, distribute, sublicense and otherwise exploit the User Content, in whole or in part, in any form, media or technology now known or later developed, throughout the universe in perpetuity.

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By submitting User Content to the CNN Services, you grant CNN and any CNN parent, subsidiary or affiliate a royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, non-exclusive, worldwide right and license, without obligation or payment to you or any third party, to use, publish, reproduce, modify, adapt, edit, translate, create derivative works from, incorporate into other works, distribute, sublicense and otherwise exploit the User Content, in whole or in part, in any form, media or technology now known or later developed throughout the universe in perpetuity.

Qualifications & exceptions

• The grant triggers on submission to the Services, not only on targeted upload.
• 'Without obligation or payment' removes any compensation duty, and 'non-exclusive' leaves the user the same rights too.
• Non-exclusive: the user keeps their own rights; CNN's license survives termination is not stated here.

Content & IP Rights · Company practice

User warranties behind the license; CNN may enforce content rights

The submitting user represents and warrants that they have all rights, power and authority necessary to grant the license; that they own or control all rights in the User Content needed for the contemplated uses; and that the User Content and CNN's exercise of the license will not violate the Terms, infringe any rights (including privacy or publicity rights), constitute libel or slander, violate any law or other right, or injure any person or entity. The user also grants CNN the right, but not the obligation, to pursue any person or entity that breaches those rights in the User Content by violating the Terms.

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You represent and warrant that you have all rights, power and authority necessary to grant this license; that you own or control all rights in the User Content needed for the uses contemplated; and that the User Content and CNN’s exercise of these rights will not violate these Terms of Use, infringe any rights, including privacy or publicity rights, constitute libel or slander, violate any law or other right, or injure any person or entity.

You also grant CNN the right, but not the obligation, to pursue any person or entity that violates your or CNN’s rights in the User Content by breaching these Terms of Use.

Qualifications & exceptions

• The enforcement right targets third parties that violate the user's or CNN's rights by breaching the Terms.

Not stated here

• The card cannot say how CNN would enforce; the Terms state the right instrumentally, without procedure.

Content & IP Rights · Permission or license

Moral-rights declaration, waiver and release if user retains moral rights

If it is determined that the user retains moral rights (including rights of attribution or integrity) in their User Content, the user declares: no personally identifying information need be used in connection with the Content or derivative/updated versions; no objection to publication, use, modification, deletion or exploitation by CNN or its licensees, successors and assigns; a forever waiver and agreement not to claim or assert any moral rights of an author in the Content; and a forever release of CNN and its licensees, successors and assigns from otherwise-assertable claims. Separately, the user permits any other user to access, view, store or reproduce the Content for that other user's personal use.

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If it is determined that you retain moral rights (including rights of attribution or integrity) in the User Content, you hereby declare that (i) you do not require that any personally identifying information be used in connection with the User Content, or any derivative works of or upgrades or updates thereto; (ii) you have no objection to the publication, use, modification, deletion and exploitation of the User Content by CNN or its licensees, successors and assigns; (iii) you forever waive and agree not to claim or assert any entitlement to any and all moral rights of an author in any of the User Content; and (iv) you forever release CNN, and its licensees, successors and assigns, from any claims that you could otherwise assert against CNN by virtue of any such moral rights.

You also permit any other user to access, view, store or reproduce the User Content for that user’s personal use.

Qualifications & exceptions

• The waiver is conditional on a determination (by whom is unstated) that the user retains moral rights.
• The no-objection list and release run to CNN's licensees, successors and assigns too.
• Separate grant to other users is limited to that user's personal use.

Not stated here

• The card cannot say who makes the 'if it is determined' determination; the source leaves that actor unstated.

Content & IP Rights · Permission or license

Feedback may be used freely, without compensation

Where the Services invite feedback, comments or other information ('Feedback'), submitting Feedback means CNN is free to use it without any compensation to the user — to improve the Services, or for any other purpose permitted by applicable law.

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By submitting Feedback, you agree that CNN is free to use the Feedback without any compensation to you, to improve the CNN Services or for any other purpose permitted by applicable law.

Qualifications & exceptions

• The permitted purpose set is 'improvement' plus anything legally permitted.

Content & IP Rights · Company practice

No unsolicited submissions; if sent anyway, free use without confidentiality

CNN does not accept unsolicited submissions of concepts, creative ideas, suggestions, stories or other potential content, and asks users not to send them. If the user does send one anyway, no material sent will be treated as confidential, and CNN may create derivative works based on it, change, revise, rearrange or otherwise edit it, and use it in whole or in part, for any purpose, in any and all media known or later devised, throughout the universe in perpetuity, without attribution or compensation; the user waives any claim against CNN and its officers, directors and employees related to the submission.

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CNN does not accept unsolicited submissions of concepts, creative ideas, suggestions, stories or other potential content. Please do not send us any unsolicited submissions.

If you do, no material you send to us will be treated as confidential, and CNN shall have the right to create derivative works based on, change, revise, rearrange or otherwise edit the submission and otherwise use the submission, in whole or in part, for any purpose, and in any and all media now known or hereafter devised throughout the universe in perpetuity without attribution or compensation to you, and you hereby waive the right to make any claim against CNN and its officers, directors and employees related to the submission.

Qualifications & exceptions

• The free-use regime applies only to material actually sent despite the request not to send it.
• The claim waiver includes CNN's officers, directors and employees.

Not stated here

• Whether solicited-submission channels exist at all in practice is not stated beyond the ban on unsolicited ones.

Content & IP Rights · Company practice

Copyright ownership: collective work; CNN Inc. rights; limited downloading

The Services contain copyrighted material, trademarks and other proprietary information (text, software, photos, video, graphics, music, sound), and the Content is copyrighted as a collective work under United States copyright laws. CNN Inc. owns copyright in the selection, coordination, arrangement and enhancement of the Content, and in the Content original to it. The user may not modify, publish, transmit, participate in transfer or sale, create derivative works, or in any way exploit any of the Content, in whole or in part; except as expressly permitted under copyright law, no copying, redistribution, retransmission, publication or commercial exploitation of downloaded material is permitted without the express permission of CNN Inc. and the copyright owner. Permitted copying/redistribution/publication must keep author attribution, trademark legend and copyright notice intact. Downloading confers no ownership rights. Any CNN Inc. authorization to copy is limited to viewing or downloading a single copy for non-commercial, personal, entertainment use only, with all copyright, trademark and other proprietary notices kept intact.

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Content Ownership

The CNN Services contain copyrighted material, trademarks and other proprietary information, including, but not limited to, text, software, photos, video, graphics, music and sound, and the Content of the CNN Services are copyrighted as a collective work under the United States copyright laws.

CNN Inc. owns copyright in the selection, coordination, arrangement and enhancement of such Content, as well as in the Content original to it.

Except as otherwise expressly permitted under copyright law, no copying, redistribution, retransmission, publication or commercial exploitation of downloaded material will be permitted without the express permission of CNN Inc. and the copyright owner.

If CNN Inc. authorizes you to copy any part of the CNN Services, this authorization is limited to viewing or downloading a single copy for non-commercial, personal, entertainment use only, and requires you to keep intact all copyright, trademark and other proprietary notices.

Qualifications & exceptions

• 'CNN Inc.' named specifically against Content, while operation is CNN Interactive Group, Inc. (Section 1(A)).
• The only stated copy authorization is a single copy for non-commercial personal entertainment use.

Content & IP Rights · Company practice

Subscription content rotates, varies by plan, and is never guaranteed

Content available on each Subscription Service — including within each plan — changes regularly: certain series, films and other Content may become available while others become unavailable during the Subscription. Content may also vary by plan, and access may depend on maintaining an internet connection, sufficient bandwidth, and the equipment used. CNN reserves the right to change what Content is available (including entire categories) without notice, and will not be liable for claims, costs, or damages arising from such actions; no particular Content's availability is guaranteed at any time.

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The Content that is available on each Subscription Service (including the Content within each Subscription plan) will change regularly. This means certain series, films, and other Content may become available while other Content may become unavailable over the duration of your Subscription. The Content that is available on a Subscription Service may vary based upon your Subscription plan.

CNN reserves the right to change the Content (including entire categories of Content) that is available on the CNN Services without notice and in no event will CNN be liable for any claims, costs, or damages caused by or arising out of such actions. CNN does not guarantee the availability of any particular Content at any time.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Content rotation applies during the subscription, not only between purchases.
• The no-liability statement covers claims, costs and damages caused by or arising out of content changes.

Content & IP Rights · Context

CNN's marks owned by CNN Inc. and affiliates; others belong to their owners

CNN Inc., its parent, subsidiaries and affiliates own all rights to their logos and trademarks used with the CNN Services. All other logos and trademarks appearing on the Services belong to their respective owners.

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Trademarks

CNN Inc., its parent, subsidiaries and affiliates, own all rights to their logos and trademarks used in connection with the CNN Services. All other logos and trademarks appearing on the CNN Services are the property of their respective owners.

Content & IP Rights · Company practice

Counter-notifications processed; possible restoration after 10 business days; repeat infringers

CNN states it will forward any valid counter-notification to the original complainant; if the complainant does not file a court action within 10 business days, CNN may restore the removed content. In appropriate circumstances CNN will disable and/or terminate the accounts of users who are repeat infringers.

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We will forward any valid counter-notification to the original complainant. If they do not file a court action within 10 business days, we may restore the removed content. We will, in appropriate circumstances, disable and/or terminate the accounts of users who are repeat infringers.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Restoration after the window is discretionary ('may restore').
• Repeat-infringer action ('disable and/or terminate') is limited to 'appropriate circumstances'.

Content & IP Rights · Restriction or exception

Misc (B): provisions benefit the CNN family and content providers/licensors; Apple is a third-party beneficiary on iOS

The Terms' provisions are for the benefit of CNN, its parent, subsidiaries, other affiliates and its third-party content providers and licensors, and each of them may assert and enforce the provisions directly or on its own behalf. A user accessing the CNN Services via an iOS device must also comply with the App Store Terms of Use. The user acknowledges that Apple, Inc. and its subsidiaries are third-party beneficiaries, and upon the user's acceptance of the Agreement, Apple has the right — and is deemed to have accepted the right — to enforce the Agreement against the user as a third-party beneficiary.

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The provisions of these Terms of Use are for the benefit of CNN, its parent, subsidiaries, other affiliates and its third party content providers and licensors and each shall have the right to assert and enforce such provisions directly or on its own behalf.

If you access the CNN Services via an iOS device, you must also comply with the App Store Terms of Use. You acknowledge and agree that Apple, Inc. (“Apple”), and its subsidiaries are third-party beneficiaries of this Agreement. Upon your acceptance of this Agreement, Apple will have the right (and will be deemed to have accepted the right) to enforce this Agreement against you as a third-party beneficiary hereof.

Qualifications & exceptions

• The beneficiaries' enforcement right is 'directly or on its own behalf'.
• Apple's enforcement right arises upon the user's acceptance of the Agreement and applies in the iOS context.

Not stated here

• The App Store Terms of Use is a linked/external document whose text is not supplied; only the compliance duty is evidenced.