How to Opt Out of Niantic's New Arbitration Agreement

Effective on the 17th of July 2024, Niantic have published an updated version of their Terms of Service.

The new version extends on many existing provisions, with one focus in particular - binding arbitration.

Niantic's new terms of service introduce a more comprehensive arbitration agreement, which includes provisions for binding arbitration and waivers of class action and jury trials.

While arbitration can offer a faster and more private way to resolve disputes, it also limits your ability to take legal action in court.

For those who prefer to retain the option of pursuing disputes through traditional legal channels, Niantic provides an opt-out process.

To opt out of the arbitration agreement, you must send a written notice to Niantic via termsofservice@nianticlabs.com within 30 days of agreeing to the new terms.

We've written this notice for you. All you have to do is fill in your details and hit send:

Once Niantic receives your opt-out notice, they should acknowledge receipt and confirm that your opt-out request has been processed. Keep this confirmation for your records.

We also created a color-coded summary of Niantic's new Terms of Service, to help you understand it without digging through the legalese:

• Your account can be terminated at any time without notice if you breach the terms.
• You waive your right to participate in a class action lawsuit or class-wide arbitration.
• No refunds for virtual goods or virtual money once purchased.
• Niantic can employ mechanisms to detect and respond to cheating, including checking your device for unauthorized software.
• Niantic is not liable for any damages or losses resulting from the use of the services.
• Niantic can change or remove virtual money or virtual goods at any time without liability.
• Niantic can use your data for event features and may share it with third parties.
• Niantic can refuse admission or remove you from events without refund for non-compliance with terms or misconduct.
• Niantic can use your likeness and data for promotional purposes without compensation.
• Niantic is not responsible for third-party websites or resources linked through the services.
• You assume all risks associated with attending or participating in events.
• Niantic can change event features or cancel events without compensation.
• Niantic can employ security measures and searches at events, and refusal may result in denied entry.
• Niantic can terminate inactive accounts after a period of inactivity.
• Niantic can use your data for emergency notifications and public event leaderboards.
• Niantic is not liable for any damages resulting from third-party services affecting your use of the services.
• Niantic can refuse admission or remove minors from events without a parent or guardian.
• Niantic can use your feedback and analytic data collected during beta programs without compensation.
• Niantic can change or remove any virtual money or virtual goods without liability.
• Niantic can use your data for demonstration, promotion, and advertising of services.
• Niantic can terminate your account for suspected fraud, cheating, or misuse of content or services.
• Niantic can modify the terms at any time, and continued use implies acceptance of changes.
• You must use the services at your own risk and be aware of your surroundings.
• Certain country-specific terms apply, which may affect your rights and obligations.
• You must create an account to use certain services and are responsible for all activities under your account.
• You must comply with all applicable laws and event policies while using the services.
• Niantic provides a limited, nonexclusive license to use the apps and services.
• You must use the services in a safe and appropriate manner, avoiding any unlawful or inappropriate content.
• You must provide accurate information when registering for events or purchasing tickets.
• You must not use the services for commercial purposes without permission.
• Niantic can monitor and remove content that violates the terms or is objectionable.
• You must use supported devices and internet connections to access the services.
• You must not share your account password and must notify Niantic of any unauthorized use.
• You must not engage in any activity that may result in injury, death, property damage, or liability.
• You must comply with all health and safety policies at events.
• You must not use unauthorized software or techniques to alter or falsify your device's location.
• You must not collect or share personally identifiable information of other users without permission.
• You must not reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble the apps or services.
• You must not use the services to violate any applicable law or regulation.
• You must not use the services to harass, threaten, or violate the legal rights of others.
• You must not use the services to gain unauthorized access to any property or location.
• You can opt out of the arbitration agreement within 30 days.
• Parents can monitor their child's online activity and use of the service through the Niantic Kids Parent Portal.
• You can terminate your account at any time through the app help centers.
• Niantic respects intellectual property rights and complies with the DMCA process.
• You can submit feedback and suggestions to Niantic, which they may use to improve services.