ScanMyTerms

Patreon Terms of Use: Five Clauses Creators Should Read First

This page is general information, not legal advice.

The Patreon Terms of Use are a contract with Patreon, Inc. They apply to everyone on the platform: fans, members and creators. They also pull in other documents, including the Community Guidelines and Commerce Guidelines. This page covers the version marked "Last Updated: May 27, 2026". In that version, five clauses move cost or risk onto creators. For each one you get the exact wording, why it matters and what to ask for instead. Individual creators can rarely negotiate standard platform terms, so use this as a checklist before you build your income on Patreon.

1. A perpetual license over your creations

By making creations available on Patreon or otherwise posting on Patreon, you grant us a royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, non-exclusive, sublicensable, worldwide license covering your imports, creations, and what you post in all formats and channels now known or later developed anywhere in the world to use, copy, reproduce, store, translate, transmit, distribute, perform, prepare derivative works, publicly display, and display in connection with any name, username, voice, or likeness provided in connection with it.

Source: https://www.patreon.com/policy/legal, retrieved 2026-10-30.

Why it works against you

You keep ownership, and Patreon says it will not "seek to profit off of them by any means other than facilitating memberships and offerings you've configured on Patreon." That promise sits in an explanatory paragraph, though, and the license itself is perpetual, irrevocable, sublicensable and covers derivative works. It also reaches your voice and likeness. The terms don't say the license ends when you delete your posts or your account. Separately, any feedback or suggestions you send are "fully owned" by Patreon. See perpetual content licenses explained.

What to ask for instead

Sample wording to propose (illustrative): "The license ends when the creator deletes the content or their account, and is limited to hosting, displaying and promoting the creator's Patreon page."

2. Blocked funds and clawbacks from future earnings

We may also block or withhold access to these funds for violations of our Terms or policies or for compliance reasons, including collecting tax reporting information. ... If your balance becomes negative, we reserve the right to recover those funds from future payments.

Source: https://www.patreon.com/policy/legal, retrieved 2026-10-30.

Why it works against you

The money your members pay can be held back, and no time limit is set. Patreon only says it will "try to communicate the reason to you promptly." Refunds and chargebacks can push your balance negative, and fees may not come back to you when that happens. Some service levels and app-store purchases also mean reserves "are withheld from becoming accessible to you." Fees "may increase with notice to you," and the creator dashboard "may not list the payout fee." For general payment risk, compare contractor payment terms red flags.

What to ask for instead

Sample wording to propose (illustrative): "Withheld funds will be released within a stated period unless a specific violation is confirmed in writing, and the creator will be told which rule is involved."

3. Termination at Patreon's sole discretion

We can terminate or suspend your account at any time at our sole discretion. We can also cancel any membership subscriptions and remove any descriptions, posts, offerings, benefits, and other material at our sole discretion.

Source: https://www.patreon.com/policy/legal, retrieved 2026-10-30.

Why it works against you

Patreon can shut down your page and cancel your members' subscriptions without notice. The terms say that "in most situations" it will work with you to resolve problems, and that you "may be able to appeal." Neither is guaranteed. Patreon may also look at what you do outside Patreon, because it "may be exposed to risk based on your conduct off platform." Your account "cannot be sold or transferred," so the membership business you built can't be moved to someone else. If you rely on one platform for income, compare YouTube Terms of Service explained.

What to ask for instead

Sample wording to propose (illustrative): "Except for urgent legal or safety reasons, we will give written notice of the specific violation, a reasonable period to fix it, and time to export member contact details and content before closing a creator account."

4. Patreon can change the terms

We may modify these Terms at any time, in our sole discretion. ... If you do not agree to the updated Terms, you must stop using Patreon before they take effect.

Source: https://www.patreon.com/policy/legal, retrieved 2026-10-30.

Why it works against you

For existing users, changes take effect 60 days after the "Last Updated" date, or sooner if you click to accept them. Patreon may require that click before you can keep using the platform or a feature. Patreon alone decides which changes are "material." For those, it says only that it "will attempt to notify you" by email or phone. If you keep using Patreon after that, you have accepted the new terms. Leaving is often a hard choice when your members are on the platform. See unilateral amendment clauses explained.

What to ask for instead

Sample wording to propose (illustrative): "We will email every creator a summary of material changes at least 60 days before they apply, and changes to fees or payouts will not apply to funds already earned."

5. A liability cap tied to what Patreon earned from you

To the greatest extent permitted by law, our liability for damages is limited to the amount of money we have earned through your use of Patreon. We are specifically not liable for loss associated with unfulfilled offerings and benefits and from losses caused by conflicting contractual agreements.

Source: https://www.patreon.com/policy/legal, retrieved 2026-10-30.

Why it works against you

If a Patreon error costs you income, the most you could recover is what Patreon earned from your account, not what you lost. Incidental and consequential damages are excluded entirely. Disputes go to "the federal or state courts located in San Francisco, California," under California law, which may be far from where you live. Whether these limits hold up depends on your jurisdiction, and a qualified lawyer can tell you how they apply to you. See limitation of liability clauses explained and governing law and jurisdiction clauses explained.

What to ask for instead

Sample wording to propose (illustrative): "The cap does not apply to funds owed to the creator or to losses caused by our gross negligence, and creators may bring individual claims in small claims court where they live."

Also worth a look

You also agree to an indemnity: "You will indemnify us from all losses and liabilities, including legal fees, that arise from these Terms or relate to your use of Patreon" (Source: https://www.patreon.com/policy/legal, retrieved 2026-10-30). Patreon can take "exclusive control over the defense" and you must help. See indemnification clauses explained. Adult/18+ creators have extra duties: they must verify the age of everyone depicted, collect written consent and provide proof when asked. For another creator platform, see Substack Terms of Use explained.

Scan your own document free

Patreon's terms change, and brand deals or side contracts add their own clauses. Upload your terms or contract (PDF, DOCX, TXT or MD, or a photo) to the ScanMyTerms Terms of Service checker. In about a minute you get the clauses that work against you, each with its risk level, the exact wording, why it hurts and how to change it. The free preview needs no sign-up and shows the risk count and the first two findings. The full report is $5. ScanMyTerms does not use your documents to train AI models, and reports are deleted after 7 days.

This page is general information, not legal advice.

Sources

Check your Terms of Service with a free preview, no sign-up needed