IntenseDebate Terms Scorecard

Grade F — Predatory terms (score 37/100)

IntenseDebate forces binding arbitration, claims a perpetual license to your content, and disclaims all liability for data privacy and security.

Forced arbitration, perpetual content license, and broad liability disclaimers.

Terms at a glance

Sells your data
UNCLEAR
Forced arbitration
YES
Trains AI on your content
YES
Collects biometric data
NO
Shares data with government
UNCLEAR
Easy to cancel
NO
Tells you before changes
NO
Deletes data on request
UNCLEAR

What the terms actually say

Section 8 — User Submissions

hereby do and shall grant IntenseDebate a worldwide, non-exclusive, perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free, fully paid, sublicensable and transferable license

You grant the company a permanent, non-revocable right to use your content forever, even if you delete your account.

Section 15 — Dispute Resolution

Any dispute arising from or relating to the subject matter of this Agreement shall be finally settled by arbitration in San Francisco County, California

You waive your right to sue in court and must resolve all disputes through private arbitration in California.

Section 2 — Modifications of Terms of Service

IntenseDebate reserves the right... to modify or replace any of the Terms of Service... at any time by posting a notice on the Site or by sending you an email.

The company can change the terms at any time, and your continued use constitutes acceptance.

Section 10 — Termination

IntenseDebate may terminate your access to all or any part of the Service at any time, with or without cause, with or without notice

The company can delete your account and all your data at any time for any reason without prior notice.

Section 15 — Dispute Resolution

The prevailing party in the arbitration shall be entitled to receive reimbursement of its reasonable expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees, expert witness fees and all other expenses)

This is a 'loser pays' provision that makes it financially risky to bring a claim against the company.

Section 13 — Limitation of Liability

IN NO EVENT SHALL INTENSEDEBATE... BE LIABLE... FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES

The company limits its liability to a maximum of $100, effectively shielding them from most legal accountability.

Last reviewed 2026-08-29 under rubric v3.5.

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