# Anthropic Updates Usage Policy to Ban Claude Reselling and Payment Evasion

> Anthropic has added two restrictions to its Usage Policy banning unauthorized reselling, proxying, and payment bypasses for Claude. Taking effect on November 12, the rules apply across Claude.ai, Claude Code, API accounts, cloud platforms, resellers, and integrated third-party products.
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> OpenCheese AI · 2026.11.05 · Web page: https://opencheese.dev/blog/anthropic-updates-usage-policy-to-ban-claude-reselling-and-payment-evasion

Software companies occasionally have to put the obvious in writing. Anthropic just updated its Usage Policy with two new restrictions aimed at abuses in selling access to Claude, banning unauthorized reselling, proxying, and payment bypasses before the rules take effect on November 12. It is the second rule tightening since September 2025.

## Why the Obvious Needs a Clause

Contracts are supposed to clarify subtle legal questions for honest customers. In practice, they often read like a ledger of every scheme people have already tried to pull on the billing department.

Anthropic added two specific bans to stop abuses around selling access to Claude. The first targets reselling and proxying access to the assistant, while the second forbids unauthorized access to paid features through stolen data, fake payment details, or any other trick designed to dodge paying.

## Software Middlemen Take Note

Developers and companies that offer access to Anthropic models inside their own products sit right in the path of these changes. A third-party tool cannot quietly act as an unapproved proxy.

The Usage Policy covers every group touching the software:

- **Direct product users** working inside Claude.ai and Claude Code.
- **Commercial and infrastructure accounts** including API customers, cloud platforms, and authorized resellers.
- **Downstream customers** who are the end users of integrated services.

## Throttles and Shutoffs

Most builders running legitimate integrations only need to make sure their billing and access flows stay within authorized channels once November 12 arrives. Anyone caught testing the fences faces four possible responses that Anthropic reserves the right to use:

- **Formal warnings** sent to violators.
- **Access limits** that cap both speed and volume.
- **Service suspensions** that pause an account.
- **Complete termination** of service.

Corporate policy updates usually dress themselves up in grand language. This one simply reminds the internet that if you want to sell the product, you need permission, and if you want the paid features, your payment details need to be real.

## Related posts

- 2026.11.04 · [Anthropic tells Claude Code to stop recreating specific existing video games](https://opencheese.dev/blog/anthropic-tells-claude-code-to-stop-recreating-specific-existing-video-games.md): Anthropic added two sentences to Claude Code's prompt on Opus 5.5 so it steers away from cloning named games. Original, genre and own-asset games are still meant to work.
- 2026.10.24 · [DHS bans DeepSeek across federal agencies, including systems already installed](https://opencheese.dev/blog/dhs-bans-deepseek-across-federal-agencies.md): The US Department of Homeland Security cites the risk of Chinese authorities reaching federal employees' data. The ban covers new purchases, existing installations and third-party products built on DeepSeek, with exceptions available on request.
- 2026.11.06 · [Claude adds read-only bank access with Personal Finance beta](https://opencheese.dev/blog/claude-adds-read-only-bank-access-with-personal-finance-beta.md): Anthropic's Personal Finance tool connects Claude to bank and credit card accounts through Plaid. The US beta can analyze spending and flag possible problems, but it cannot move or invest money.