Trade-compliance and customs platforms
Trade compliance software data ownership, platform by platform
Updated
7 of the 15 trade platforms we read confirm that the importer owns what it files. The difference between them is what each keeps for itself: aggregated statistics, benchmarks, and, for Flexport and AEB, a right to develop AI or algorithms.
Platforms that confirm the customer owns its data
E2open's licence terms say "Customer owns all Intellectual Property Rights in and related to the Customer Data, Results, and Customer's Confidential Information." Oracle, Avalara, Flexport, Xeneta, Zonos and ShipStation say the same in their own words.
What they keep: aggregates, statistics and benchmarks
Xeneta's terms confirm the customer owns its data, but add that "Xeneta shall have exclusive ownership rights to the Aggregated Data for any purpose." E2open owns the de-identified Statistics it compiles from use of its services.
Source: Xeneta, Terms of Service (2024)
project44 is granted the right to use and exploit customer data "in aggregated, unidentifiable form together with similar data furnish by third parties", within a cap on how much of any combined set it makes up.
Source: project44, Terms
Two platforms that reach toward AI
Flexport's software terms grant it the right to use user content, de-identified or aggregated, to train, test and develop its artificial intelligence. AEB's general terms say it may analyse customer data "in order to improve and further develop the services, products, and the underlying algorithms."
Where that leaves an importer that wants to license
An aggregate a platform already owns is not yours to license, and a buyer may ask whether your records already feed a benchmark it can buy elsewhere. Your own entries, classifications and invoices remain yours to license. Every platform's answer is on the trade platform board.
Source: Trade platform terms