Terms of use

Last updated: 19 November 2025

Agreement to terms

These Terms of Use (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of the website, online services, content, data, research publications, analysis, reports, and related Materials provided by IDC Research, Inc. and its Affiliates (“IDC,” “we,” “us,” or “our”).  “Materials” means, collectively, (1) the publicly available content, research publications, analysis, reports, and related materials provided by IDC through the Service, and (2) proprietary research, data, publications, analysis, reports, and related materials provided through paid subscription services or other fee-based access arrangements.  By accessing, browsing, or using any part of our website or services (“Service”), you (“User,” “you,” or “your”) acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be legally bound by these Terms.

1. Use of the service

   IDC grants a non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and use the Materials for your internal, non-commercial use.

2. Usage and limitations

   You expressly agree that you will not:

   1. reproduce, distribute, sell, sublicense, or otherwise make the Materials available to third parties;
   2. reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble the Materials;
   3. create derivative works or competitive products based on the Materials;
   4. quote, cite, or excerpt the Materials for any external use without prior written permission from permissions@idc.com;
   5. input, upload, or transfer the Materials to any platform that incorporates, utilizes, or provides Advanced Analytics or AI functionality;
   6. use the Materials to train, improve, or enhance AI, machine learning models, or algorithms;
   7. scrape or systematically extract data from the Service using automated means;
   8. remove, alter, or obscure any proprietary notices or labels on the Materials; or
   9. use the Service or Materials in any manner that violates applicable laws or regulations.
   10. Definitions. For purposes of these Terms: (a) “Advanced Analytics” means functionality that analyzes data or content to predict outcomes, classify information, or generate insights using statistical methods, machine learning, or artificial intelligence beyond basic data visualization, charting, or reporting; and (b) “AI” means artificial intelligence systems that generate new content such as text, data, images, audio, video, or code based on user prompts, including large language models, image generators, and code generators.

3. Access credentials and security

   1. Access Credentials.  If you are an IDC subscriber, access to certain Services requires authentication credentials (“Access Credentials”).  You are solely responsible for maintaining the confidentiality and security of your Access Credentials and for all activities under your account.
   2. Prohibited Sharing.  You may not share or disclose your Access Credentials to any third party or allow unauthorized access to the Service.
   3. Security Breach Notification.  You must immediately notify IDC at idc_support@idc.com, or if in Japan at JP_Support@idc.com, upon becoming aware of any unauthorized use of your Access Credentials or security breach.
   4. Monitoring and Suspension.  IDC may monitor your use of the Service to verify compliance with these Terms.  IDC may suspend or terminate your access if IDC reasonably believes your account has been compromised, you have violated these Terms, or continued access poses a security risk.

4. Ownership

   1. IDC’s Intellectual Property. IDC retains all right, title, and interest in and to the Service and Materials, including all associated intellectual property rights. The Materials are protected by copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret, and other intellectual property laws.
   2. Reservation of Rights. All rights not expressly granted under these Terms are reserved by IDC. These Terms do not grant you any right to use IDC’s trademarks, service marks, or trade names.
   3. Feedback. IDC may use any feedback, suggestions, or ideas you provide regarding the Service without restriction or obligation to you but will not identify you as the source.

5. Representations

   1. Compliance.  You represent and warrant that your use of the Service and Materials complies with all applicable laws, including export control, sanctions, and anti-corruption laws.  You are not located in, organized under the laws of, or acting on behalf of any person or entity in a sanctioned country or designated on any restricted party list.
   2. Authority.  You represent that you have legal authority to enter into and be bound by these Terms.

6. Warranty and disclaimer

   1. AS-IS BASIS. THE SERVICE AND MATERIALS ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.” TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, IDC DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.
   2. IDC IS NOT AN INVESTMENT ADVISOR OR PROFESSIONAL ADVISOR. THE MATERIALS DO NOT CONSTITUTE INVESTMENT, FINANCIAL, LEGAL, TAX, OR OTHER PROFESSIONAL ADVICE. YOU ARE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR DECISIONS BASED ON THE MATERIALS.
   3. IDC does not warrant that the Service will be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free, or that the Materials will be accurate, complete, reliable, or current. You acknowledge that the Materials may contain inaccuracies or errors.

7. Limitation of liability

   1. EXCLUSION OF DAMAGES. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL IDC BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, GOODWILL, USE, DATA, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES, REGARDLESS OF THE THEORY OF LIABILITY AND EVEN IF IDC HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
   2. LIABILITY CAP. IDC’S TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THESE TERMS OR YOUR USE OF THE SERVICE SHALL NOT EXCEED THE TOTAL AMOUNT PAID BY YOU TO IDC, IF ANY, DURING THE TWELVE (12) MONTH PERIOD IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO LIABILITY.
   3. Essential Terms. THE LIMITATIONS AND EXCLUSIONS IN THIS SECTION 7 ARE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARTIES AND WILL APPLY EVEN IF ANY LIMITED REMEDY SPECIFIED IN THESE TERMS IS FOUND TO HAVE FAILED OF ITS ESSENTIAL PURPOSE.
   4. Legal Exceptions. Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits IDC’s liability for fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation, death or personal injury caused by negligence, or any other liability that cannot be excluded or limited under applicable law.

8. Privacy

   IDC’s Privacy Policy governs our collection, use, processing, and protection of your personal data. By using the Service, you acknowledge that your personal data will be processed in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

9. Termination

   1. IDC’s Right to Terminate. IDC may, in its sole discretion, terminate or suspend your access to the Service immediately and without prior notice if you violate any provision of these Terms or for any other reason deemed appropriate by IDC.
   2. Effect of Termination. Upon termination or expiration of these Terms, your right to access and use the Service and Materials will immediately cease. You must promptly discontinue all use of the Materials and destroy or return all copies in your possession or control.
   3. Survival. Sections 2 (Usage and Limitations), 3.3 (Security Breach Notification), 4 (Ownership), 5 (Representations), 6 (Warranty Disclaimer), 7 (Limitation of Liability), 8 (Privacy), 9.2 (Effect of Termination), 10.1 (Governing Law and Alternative Dispute Resolution), and 10 (General Provisions) shall survive termination of these Terms.  Additionally, any other provisions that by their nature are intended to survive termination shall also survive termination of these Terms.

10. General provisions

    1. Governing Law and Alternative Dispute Resolution. These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, USA without regard to its conflict of laws principles. Any dispute will be submitted to mediation before a mediator appointed by the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”). If mediation fails, the matter will be submitted for binding arbitration under AAA’s Commercial Arbitration Rules in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. The arbitrator will decide all questions relating to arbitrability, including whether the parties have agreed to arbitrate and/or whether the agreement to arbitrate covers the dispute.
    2. Modifications. IDC reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time by posting updated terms on the website. Your continued use of the Service after such modifications constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.
    3. Severability. If any provision of these Terms is held to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect.
    4. Entire Agreement. These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and IDC regarding the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior or contemporaneous understandings. Where both a separate written agreement between IDC and a client governing subscription access to IDC’s proprietary research, data, and services (“Enterprise Agreement”) and these Terms apply to your activities, you agree to comply with all applicable provisions of both sets of terms and conditions.
    5. Assignment. You may not assign these Terms without IDC’s prior written consent. IDC may assign these Terms without restriction.We may periodically modify the provisions of this Privacy Policy and encourage you to review it from time to time in order to stay up to date with the most recent developments in the area of the protection of your personal data. In the event of significant changes, we may also choose to notify you via email should we have your email address in our records.