Level Up Your Kafka Skills in Just 5 Days | Join Season of Streaming

Last Updated July 24, 2024

Confluent License Agreement

This Confluent License Agreement (“Agreement”) is a legal agreement between you (either an individual or an entity) (“Customer”) and Confluent, Inc. a Delaware corporation with offices at 899 W. Evelyn Avenue, Mountain View, CA 94041 (“Confluent”), regarding proprietary software made available by Confluent for download in object code format (“Confluent Software”).

BY CLICKING ON THE CHECKBOX THAT DEMONSTRATES ACCEPTANCE OF THIS AGREEMENT, OR BY USING THE CONFLUENT SOFTWARE, CUSTOMER EXPRESSLY ACCEPTS AND AGREES TO THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT. IF YOU ARE AN INDIVIDUAL AGREEING TO THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT ON BEHALF OF AN ENTITY, SUCH AS YOUR EMPLOYER, YOU REPRESENT THAT YOU HAVE THE LEGAL AUTHORITY TO BIND THAT ENTITY AND “CUSTOMER” SHALL REFER HEREIN TO SUCH ENTITY. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE SUCH AUTHORITY, OR IF YOU DO NOT AGREE WITH THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT, YOU MUST NOT ACCEPT THIS AGREEMENT AND MAY NOT USE THE CONFLUENT SOFTWARE.

Confluent reserves the right to update this Agreement at any time by publishing the updated Agreement on the Confluent website. By using the Confluent Software following such changes, you agree to the updated Agreement.

1. LICENSE

1.1  Evaluation License. Where Confluent identifies the Confluent Software as provided pursuant to an “Evaluation License” or “Trial License” or as otherwise set forth in the Documentation, Confluent grants to Customer a limited, non-exclusive, non-sublicensable, non-transferable, revocable license during the Evaluation Term to use the Confluent Software solely for evaluation use in development and testing environments, and not for production use, subject to the terms of the Documentation and this Agreement (“Evaluation License”). “Evaluation Term” means thirty (30) days from the date of download by Customer or such other period specified in writing by Confluent. “Documentation” means the published documentation describing the functionality of the Confluent Software located at https://docs.confluent.io/current/.

1.2  Developer License. Except if the Confluent Software is provided pursuant to Sections 1.1, Confluent grants to Customer a limited, non-exclusive, non-sublicensable, non-transferable, revocable license for an indefinite duration to use the Confluent Software on one or more clusters with a single broker per cluster, solely for evaluation use in development and testing environments, and not for production use and otherwise subject to the terms of the Documentation and this Agreement (“Developer License”).

1.3  Confluent Connectors. If Customer has an active subscription to the Confluent Software, then any Confluent Connectors that Customer downloads from Confluent’s website or otherwise receives from Confluent will be subject to the terms of Customer’s Confluent subscription agreement applicable to Confluent’s proprietary software, not the terms of this Agreement.

1.4  Additional Restrictions and Limitations. The licenses granted herein do not include a right to sublicense. Customer shall not, and shall not permit or encourage any third party to: (a) use the Confluent Software other than as expressly permitted by this Agreement, or use the Confluent Software for third-party training, resale, software-as-a-service, time-sharing or service bureau use or (b) disassemble, decompile or reverse engineer any portions of the Confluent Software, or otherwise attempt to gain access to the source code to such Confluent Software (or the underlying ideas, algorithms, structure or organization of the object code in the Confluent Software). The foregoing restriction is inapplicable to the extent prohibited by applicable law; provided that, in the event that Customer intends to disassemble, decompile or reverse engineer such Confluent Software, Customer shall first provide Confluent with written notice thereof.

1.5  Reservation of Rights. Confluent reserves all rights not expressly granted in this section. No rights are granted by implication.

1.6  Delivery of Materials. The Confluent Software, and any versions, updates or maintenance releases of any component thereof, will be delivered only through an electronic transfer.

1.7  Support and Maintenance. Confluent is not obligated to provide maintenance and support services for the Confluent Software licensed under this Agreement. In the event that Confluent, in its sole discretion, elects to make available to Customer any updates or maintenance releases of the Confluent Software, such updates or maintenance releases shall be deemed Confluent Software under this Agreement.

1.8  Preview Releases. Confluent may make available for download a preview release or beta version of Confluent Software, and Customer may elect to use such preview release at its sole discretion. Preview releases are intended for evaluation use in development and testing environments only, and not for production use. Confluent may discontinue providing preview releases of the Confluent Software at any time in Confluent’s sole discretion. Confluent is undertaking no obligation to release a generally available version of a preview release or any specific feature thereof. If Customer provides Confluent any suggestions, enhancement requests, recommendations, or other feedback regarding preview releases (“Feedback”), Confluent may freely use and incorporate into Confluent’s products and services any such Feedback. Feedback shall be considered Confidential Information, regardless of whether marked as such.

1.9  Confluent Audit Rights. Confluent reserves the right, upon prior notice to Customer and during normal business hours, to audit Customer’s usage of the Confluent Soft Customer’s compliance with the terms of this Agreement.

2. USAGE DATA; TELEMETRY METRICS. Confluent may collect data related to Customer’s use of Confluent Software (“Usage Data”). Such Usage Data may be used by Confluent for the provision, improvement, and support of Confluent Software, including the creation of analytics data. Confluent will not publicly disclose Usage Data, unless such data is aggregated and anonymized or to the extent required by law. Customer acknowledges that certain features of the Confluent Software may be configured to collect and report on system performance (“Telemetry Metrics”) to Confluent. Customer may enable or disable transmission of Telemetry Metrics to Confluent at any time.

3. OWNERSHIP. Customer acknowledges that Confluent or its licensors retain all proprietary rights, title and interest, including all intellectual property rights, in and to the Confluent Software and any changes, corrections, bug fixes, enhancements, updates and other modifications thereto (collectively, “Modifications”), and as between the parties all such rights shall vest in Confluent. Customer acknowledges that the licenses granted in Section 1 do not include the right to prepare any Modifications of the Confluent Software.

4. CONFIDENTIALITY

4.1 Nondisclosure and Limited Use. Each party shall retain in confidence the non-public information and know-how disclosed or made available by the other party pursuant to this Agreement which is either designated in writing as proprietary and/or confidential, if disclosed in writing, or if disclosed orally, is designated in writing (which may be via email) as confidential within thirty (30) days of the oral disclosure or should reasonably be understood to be confidential by the recipient (the “Confidential Information”). The Confluent Software, Modifications, and the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall be Confluent’s Confidential Information. Each party agrees to: (a) maintain the confidentiality of the other party’s Confidential Information; (b) refrain from using the other party’s Confidential Information except for the purpose of performing its obligations under this Agreement; and (c) not disclose such Confidential Information to any third party except to employees and subcontractors as is reasonably required in connection with the exercise of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (and only subject to binding written use and disclosure restrictions at least as protective as those set forth herein). The foregoing obligations will not apply to Confidential Information of the other party which is: (i) already publicly known without breach of this Agreement; (ii) discovered or created by the receiving party without use of, or reference to, the Confidential Information of the disclosing party, as shown in records of the receiving party; (iii) otherwise known to the receiving party through no wrongful conduct of the receiving party, or (iv) required to be disclosed by law or court order; provided that the receiving party shall provide prompt notice thereof and reasonable assistance to the disclosing party to enable the disclosing party to seek a protective order or otherwise prevent or restrict such disclosure. Moreover, either party hereto may disclose any Confidential Information hereunder to such party’s agents, attorneys and other representatives (and only subject to confidentiality obligations at least as protective as those set forth herein) or any court of competent jurisdiction as reasonably required to resolve any dispute between the parties hereto.

4.2 Remedies. Any breach or threatened breach of Section 4.1 may cause irreparable injury to the disclosing party and, in addition to any other remedies that may be available, in law, in equity or otherwise, the disclosing party shall be entitled to seek injunctive relief against the threatened breach of this Agreement or the continuation of any such breach by the receiving party, without the necessity of proving actual damages or posting any bond, in addition to any other rights or remedies provided by law.

5. DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

5.1  Disclaimer of Any Warranties. CONFLUENT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED, STATUTORY, OR OTHERWISE, WITH RESPECT TO THE CONFLUENT SOFTWARE, CONFLUENT PLATFORM, OR ANY OTHER MATERIALS PROVIDED HEREUNDER. CONFLUENT SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS AND IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT AND THOSE ARISING FROM A COURSE OF DEALING OR USAGE OR TRADE, AND ALL SUCH WARRANTIES ARE HEREBY EXCLUDED TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW. THE CONFLUENT SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” BASIS.

5.2  Limitation of Liability. IN NO EVENT SHALL CONFLUENT’S OR ITS AFFILIATES’ TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT EXCEED $500. NEITHER CONFLUENT NOR ITS AFFILIATES WILL BE LIABLE TO CUSTOMER FOR ANY CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, INDIRECT, PUNITIVE OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION LOST PROFITS, BUSINESS, CONTRACTS, REVENUE, GOODWILL, PRODUCTION, ANTICIPATED SAVINGS, LOSS OF DATA, OR COSTS OF PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES, OR FOR ANY CLAIM OR DEMAND BY ANY OTHER PARTY, HOWEVER CAUSED AND (TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW) UNDER ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE) EVEN IF CONFLUENT HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. CUSTOMER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THESE LIMITATIONS SHALL APPLY NOTWITHSTANDING ANY FAILURE OF ESSENTIAL PURPOSE OF ANY LIMITED REMEDY.

6. TERM AND TERMINATION

6.1  Term. Unless earlier terminated as provided in Section 6, this Agreement and the license granted hereunder will be effective as of the Effective Date (except as expressly set forth in this Agreement) and will immediately terminate if Customer breaches Section 1 of this Agreement, regardless of whether Confluent notifies Customer of such termination.

6.2  Termination. Either party shall have the right to terminate this Agreement and the license granted herein upon written notice in the event the other party fails to perform or observe any material term or condition of this Agreement and such default has not been cured no later than ten (10) days after written notice of such default to the other party. Confluent may also terminate this Agreement immediately if the Customer: (a) terminates or suspends its business; (b) becomes subject to any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding under Federal or state statute; (c) becomes insolvent or subject to direct control by a trustee, receiver or similar authority; or (d) has wound up or liquidated, voluntarily or otherwise.

6.3  Effect of Termination. The provisions of this Agreement that by their nature extend beyond the termination of this Agreement will survive termination. All of Customer’s rights in the Confluent Software will terminate immediately upon termination of this Agreement. No later than five (5) days after termination of this Agreement, Customer shall return to Confluent or, upon Confluent’s request, destroy or render inaccessible, at Customer’s sole expense, all Confidential Information of Confluent and materials containing any Confidential Information of Confluent, and discontinue use of and uninstall the Confluent Software, including all copies thereof. Nothing contained herein shall limit any other remedies that Confluent may have for the default of Customer under this Agreement nor relieve Customer of any of its obligations incurred prior to such termination.

7. MISCELLANEOUS

7.1  Assignment. Customer shall not assign or otherwise transfer this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder, in whole or in part, whether by operation of law or otherwise, to any third party without Confluent’s prior written consent. Any purported transfer, assignment or delegation without such prior written consent will be null and void and of no force or effect. Confluent shall have the right to assign this Agreement to any successor to its business or assets to which this Agreement relates, whether by merger, sale of assets, sale of stock, reorganization or otherwise. Subject to this Section, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto, and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

7.2  Entire Agreement; Modification; Waiver. This Agreement represents the entire agreement between the parties, and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, written or oral, with respect to the matters covered by this Agreement, and is not intended to confer upon any third party any rights or remedies hereunder. Customer acknowledges that it has not entered in this Agreement based on any representations other than those contained herein. No modification of or amendment to this Agreement, nor any waiver of any rights under this Agreement, shall be effective unless in writing and signed by both parties. The waiver of one breach or default or any delay in exercising any rights shall not constitute a waiver of any subsequent breach or default.

7.3  Third Party Software. Confluent also makes available certain third party open source software as identified in the applicable help, notices, about or source files (“Third Party Software”). The Third Party Software shall be subject to the applicable open source license(s) and not this Agreement, and is provided by Confluent at no charge. To the extent the terms of open source licenses applicable to Third Party Software prohibit any of the restrictions in this Agreement, such restrictions will not apply to such Third Party Software. To the extent the terms of open source licenses applicable to Third Party Software require Confluent to make an offer to provide source code or related information in connection with the Third Party Software, such offer is made.

7.4  Governing Law and Venue. This Agreement shall in all respects be governed by the laws of the State of California without reference to its principles of conflicts of laws. The parties hereby agree that all disputes arising out of this Agreement shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of and venue in the federal and state courts within Santa Clara County, California. Customer hereby consents to the personal and exclusive jurisdiction and venue of these courts. The parties hereby disclaim and exclude the application hereto of the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods.

7.5  Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable under applicable law by a court of competent jurisdiction, it shall be replaced with the valid provision that most closely reflects the intent of the parties and the remaining provisions of the Agreement will remain in full force and effect.

7.6  Relationship of the Parties. Nothing in this Agreement is to be construed as creating an agency, partnership, or joint venture relationship between the parties hereto. Neither party shall have any right or authority to assume or create any obligations or to make any representations or warranties on behalf of any other party, whether express or implied, or to bind the other party in any respect whatsoever.

7.7  Notices. All notices permitted or required under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given when delivered in person (including by overnight courier), or three (3) business days after being mailed by first class, registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, to the address of the party specified in this Agreement or such other address as either party may specify in writing.

7.8  U.S. Government Rights. The Confluent Software is developed at private expense, and are licensed to the U.S. Government as "commercial items," “commercial computer software,” “commercial computer documentation,” and “technical data," as those terms are defined in 48 C.F.R. Ch 1 (“FAR”) and 48 C.F.R. Ch. 2 (“DFARS”). Any use, modification or disclosure of the Confluent Software is subject solely to the terms of this Agreement (or other agreement between the parties, if any, governing the use of Confluent Software).

7.9  Export Law Assurances. Customer understands that the Confluent Software is subject to export control laws and regulations. Customer may not download or otherwise export or re-export the Confluent Software or any underlying information or technology except in full compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, in particular, but without limitation, United States export control laws. None of the Confluent Software or any underlying information or technology may be downloaded or otherwise exported or re- exported: (a) into (or to a national or resident of) any country to which the United States has embargoed goods; or (b) to anyone on the U.S. Treasury Department’s list of specially designated nationals or the U.S. Commerce Department’s list of prohibited countries or debarred or denied persons or entities. Customer hereby agrees to the foregoing and represents and warrants that customer is not located in, under control of, or a national or resident of any such country or on any such list.

7.10  Construction. The titles and section headings used in this Agreement are for ease of reference only and shall not be used in the interpretation or construction of this Agreement. No rule of construction resolving any ambiguity in favor of the non-drafting party shall be applied hereto. The word “including”, when used herein, is illustrative rather than exclusive and means “including, without limitation.”