Microsoft Terms of Use

Account & Service Control · Restriction or exception

If a Service needs an account, give accurate details; you are responsible for your password and all account activity

If any of the Services requires you to open an account, you must complete registration by providing current, complete and accurate information as prompted by the registration form, and you also choose a password and a user name. You are entirely responsible for keeping your password and account confidential and for any and all activities that occur under your account. You agree to notify Microsoft immediately of any unauthorized use of your account or any other breach of security. You may not use anyone else's account at any time without the permission of the account holder.

Supporting quotations

If any of the Services requires you to open an account, you must complete the registration process by providing us with current, complete and accurate information as prompted by the applicable registration form.

You are entirely responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your password and account.

Furthermore, you are entirely responsible for any and all activities that occur under your account.

You agree to notify Microsoft immediately of any unauthorized use of your account or any other breach of security.

You may not use anyone else's account at any time, without the permission of the account holder.

Qualifications & exceptions

• This applies only where a Service requires you to open an account.
• Responsibility covers all activity under your account, not only what you did yourself.
• Using another person's account requires that account holder's permission.

Not stated here

• The text does not define "immediately" or say what follows if you notify late.

Account & Service Control · Restriction or exception

Microsoft is not liable for your losses if someone else uses your account, but you could be liable for others' losses

Microsoft says it will not be liable for any loss you may incur as a result of someone else using your password or account, whether or not you knew about it. However, the text says you could be held liable for losses incurred by Microsoft or another party because someone else used your account or password.

Supporting quotations

Microsoft will not be liable for any loss that you may incur as a result of someone else using your password or account, either with or without your knowledge.

However, you could be held liable for losses incurred by Microsoft or another party due to someone else using your account or password.

Qualifications & exceptions

• "Either with or without your knowledge": Microsoft's disclaimer applies whether or not you knew of the use.
• "Could be held liable" is permissive wording; it does not say that liability will always follow.

Not stated here

• The text does not say how much you could owe or how that would be decided.

Account & Service Control · Company practice

Microsoft need not monitor Communication Services but may remove material and end your access any time, without notice

Microsoft says it has no obligation to monitor the Communication Services. However, it reserves the right to review materials posted to them and to remove any materials in its sole discretion. It also reserves the right to terminate your access to any or all of the Communication Services at any time, without notice, for any reason whatsoever.

Supporting quotations

Microsoft has no obligation to monitor the Communication Services.

However, Microsoft reserves the right to review materials posted to the Communication Services and to remove any materials in its sole discretion.

Microsoft reserves the right to terminate your access to any or all of the Communication Services at any time, without notice, for any reason whatsoever.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Microsoft's right to review and remove materials is stated as "in its sole discretion".
• Termination of access can be "at any time, without notice, for any reason whatsoever" and can cover "any or all" Communication Services.

Not stated here

• The text does not say whether Microsoft will tell you why material was removed or access ended.