Contracts for Clouds: Comparison and Analysis of the Terms and Conditions of Cloud Computing Services

47 Pages Posted: 2 Sep 2010

See all articles by Simon Bradshaw

Simon Bradshaw

Queen Mary University of London - Centre for Commercial Law Studies (CCLS); Queen Mary University of London - Centre for Commercial Law Studies (CCLS)

Christopher Millard

Queen Mary University of London, School of Law - Centre for Commercial Law Studies

Ian Walden

Queen Mary University of London - Centre for Commercial Law Studies (CCLS)

Abstract

Cloud computing offers an attractive solution to customers keen to acquire computing infrastructure without large up-front investment, particularly in cases where their demand may be variable and unpredictable. But the greater flexibility of a Cloud computing service as compared with a traditional outsourcing contract is balanced by less certainty for the customer in terms of the location of data placed into the Cloud and the legal foundations of any contract with the provider. This paper reports on a detailed survey and analysis of the Terms and Conditions offered by Cloud computing providers.

Keywords: Cloud Computing, Outsourcing, Data Protection, Information Technology, Contracts, Service Level Agreements, Terms of Service, Terms and Conditions

JEL Classification: K12

Suggested Citation

Bradshaw, Simon and Millard, Christopher and Walden, Ian, Contracts for Clouds: Comparison and Analysis of the Terms and Conditions of Cloud Computing Services. Queen Mary School of Law Legal Studies Research Paper No. 63/2010, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1662374 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1662374

Simon Bradshaw (Contact Author)

Queen Mary University of London - Centre for Commercial Law Studies (CCLS) ( email )

67-69 Lincoln's Inn Fields
London, WC2A 3JB
United Kingdom

HOME PAGE: http://www.law.qmul.ac.uk/people/academic/bradshaw.html

Queen Mary University of London - Centre for Commercial Law Studies (CCLS) ( email )

67-69 Lincoln's Inn Fields
London, WC2A 3JB
United Kingdom

HOME PAGE: http://www.law.qmul.ac.uk/people/academic/bradshaw.html

Christopher Millard

Queen Mary University of London, School of Law - Centre for Commercial Law Studies ( email )

67-69 Lincoln's Inn Fields
London, EC2A 3JB
United Kingdom

HOME PAGE: http://www.law.qmul.ac.uk/staff/millard.html

Ian Walden

Queen Mary University of London - Centre for Commercial Law Studies (CCLS) ( email )

67-69 Lincoln's Inn Fields
London, WC2A 3JB
United Kingdom

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