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SIDE-BY-SIDE · 2 OF 3
Two platforms.
Same questions.
GitHub Copilot
DEVELOPER / CODING
PROMPT
GitHub does not claim ownership over code inputs. Code submitted to Copilot remains the user's property.
OUTPUT
GitHub does not assert ownership over code suggestions. Users are responsible for determining the IP status of generated code.
TRAINING
GitHub Privacy Statement confirms: 'Product Development and Improvement: We use Personal Data to develop and improve our products, services, and technologies, including artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies. This includes improving features, developing new offerings, enhancing safety and security capabilities, and training models. We apply appropriate technical safeguards, including aggregation and de-identification techniques where feasible.' Affiliates including Microsoft may also receive data for 'product development and improvement (including training and improving artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies).' Individual tier: code snippets and telemetry may be used for training (opt-out in IDE settings). Business/Enterprise: training on user code is off by default, no data retention beyond session.
COMMERCIAL
Commercial use is the primary intended use case, particularly for Copilot for Business and Enterprise plans.
280 verified findings across the displayed surfaces.
Cursor
DEVELOPER / CODING
PROMPT
Cursor's Privacy Policy does not explicitly address code/prompt ownership but does not claim any IP rights over user code.
OUTPUT
Not explicitly addressed in the Privacy Policy. No ownership claims made by Cursor over generated code suggestions.
TRAINING
Unknown — both cached policy files (cursor_tos.txt and cursor_privacy.txt) are empty (0 bytes). No policy content was reviewable.
COMMERCIAL
Commercial use is the primary intended use for Cursor. No explicit restrictions on commercial use of generated code.
98 verified findings across the displayed surfaces.
Empty Comparison Slot
AIRIN SUMMARY
GitHub Copilot carries highly permissive license terms; Cursor carries highly permissive license terms.FOR ENTERPRISE: GITHUB COPILOT NOT RECOMMENDED · CURSOR NOT RECOMMENDED
↳ Compliance surfaces · side by side
⚡ INTERACTIVE RISK COMPARISON HEATMAP
| RISK SURFACE | GITHUB COPILOT | CURSOR |
|---|---|---|
| PPrompt Ownership | ||
| OOutput Ownership | ||
| TModel Training | ||
| CCommercial Use | ||
| DData Privacy | ||
| $Tier Differences |
* Click any cell in the heatmap matrix to scroll directly to its verbatim policy citations below.
📂 Intellectual Property & Model Training
P
SURFACE 01
Prompt Ownership
GitHub Copilot
MEDHIGH
GitHub does not claim ownership over code inputs. Code submitted to Copilot remains the user's property.
“ Short version: We own the service and all of our content. In order for you to use our content, we give you certain rights to it, but you may only use our content in the way we have allowed. ”
Cursor
MEDHIGH
Cursor's Privacy Policy does not explicitly address code/prompt ownership but does not claim any IP rights over user code.
“ 5.2. Feedback. We appreciate the thoughts and comments from our users. If you choose to provide input and suggestions regarding existing functionalities, problems with or proposed modifications or improvements to the Service (“ Feedback ”), then you grant Anysphere the right to…”
O
SURFACE 02
Output Ownership
GitHub Copilot
MEDHIGH
GitHub does not assert ownership over code suggestions. Users are responsible for determining the IP status of generated code.
“ You grant us and other Users the licenses in Sections D.4–D.8. These licenses apply to Your Content. If Your Content already includes a license granting us the permissions we need, no additional license is required. You will not receive payment for these rights. These licenses e…”
Cursor
MEDHIGH
Not explicitly addressed in the Privacy Policy. No ownership claims made by Cursor over generated code suggestions.
“ 1.4. Limitations for Suggestions. You acknowledge that Suggestions are generated automatically by machine learning technology and may be similar to or the same as Suggestions provided to other customers, and no rights to any Suggestions generated, provided, or returned by the Se…”
T
SURFACE 03
Model Training
GitHub Copilot
MED⚠ CAUTIONHIGH
GitHub Privacy Statement confirms: 'Product Development and Improvement: We use Personal Data to develop and improve our products, services, and technologies, including artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies. This includes improving features, developing new offerings, enhancing safety and security capabilities, and training models. We apply appropriate technical safeguards, including aggregation and de-identification techniques where feasible.' Affiliates including Microsoft may also receive data for 'product development and improvement (including training and improving artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies).' Individual tier: code snippets and telemetry may be used for training (opt-out in IDE settings). Business/Enterprise: training on user code is off by default, no data retention beyond session.
“ Unless you opt out, GitHub's Affiliates may use your Inputs and Outputs under this license in accordance with their applicable privacy and contractual obligations. This license does not, however, permit GitHub or its Affiliates to share your Inputs or Outputs with third-par…”
Cursor
MED⚠ CAUTIONHIGH
Unknown — both cached policy files (cursor_tos.txt and cursor_privacy.txt) are empty (0 bytes). No policy content was reviewable.
“We do not use Inputs or Suggestions to train our models, or permit third parties to use them for training, unless: (1) they are flagged for security review (in which case we may analyze them to improve our ability to detect and enforce our Terms of Service ), (2) you explicitly r…”
Training opt-out exists but security-flagged content may be used for model improvement without user consent. The 'flagged for security review' carve-out is broad and user-triggered opt-in path for training is also present.
C
SURFACE 04
Commercial Use
GitHub Copilot
MED⚠ CAUTIONHIGH
Commercial use is the primary intended use case, particularly for Copilot for Business and Enterprise plans.
“ By using automated means to access, collect, or otherwise use (“Access”) any publicly accessible Content from the Service for the purpose of developing or training any commercially available artificial intelligence model, machine learning system, or similar technology (a "Commer…”
Cursor
MEDHIGH
Commercial use is the primary intended use for Cursor. No explicit restrictions on commercial use of generated code.
“ 1.1. Provision of Access. Anysphere is an applied research company working on automating coding. The Service offers a suite of coding tools driven by machine learning to help developers write code more easily and efficiently and can provide suggested code, outputs or other funct…”
📂 Data Privacy & Governance
D
SURFACE 05
Data Privacy
GitHub Copilot
MED⚠ CAUTIONHIGH
Individual: training on by default, opt-out available in IDE settings. Business: training off by default, no content retention. Enterprise: same as Business with additional enterprise governance and IP indemnification.
“ The business or commercial purpose of sharing personal information is to assist us with marketing, advertising, and audience measurement.”
Cursor
MEDHIGH
—
“ 3. Account Registration and Access. To access most features of the Service, you must register for an account. When you register for an account, you may be required to provide us with information about yourself, such as your name, email address, or other contact information. You…”
$
SURFACE 06
Tier Differences
GitHub Copilot
MEDHIGH
Individual: training on by default, opt-out available in IDE settings. Business: training off by default, no content retention. Enterprise: same as Business with additional enterprise governance and IP indemnification.
“ "Beta Previews" mean software, services, or features identified as alpha, beta, preview, early access, or evaluation, or words or phrases with similar meanings.”
Cursor
MEDHIGH
—
“ 1.6. Beta Services . From time to time, Anysphere may make Beta Services available to you. Beta Services shall be clearly designated as beta, pilot, limited release, non-production, early access, evaluation or a similar description. You may choose to use or not use such Beta Ser…”