# POL-215 — The terms should state governing law and venue

> The terms of service must include a governing-law and venue clause.

- **Rule ID:** POL-215
- **Layer:** Policy pages (`POLICY_PAGE`)
- **Checks:** `terms of service body`
- **Severity:** MEDIUM — Usually survives review, but lowers your trust score or invites manual review.
- **When it bites:** Gates approval — get this wrong and registration is refused
- **How it is detected:** AI judgement over the submitted form
- **Fix type:** Fix the privacy policy or SMS terms
- **Required by:** TCR
- **Applies:** Applies to every 10DLC registration.
- **Canonical URL:** https://ekas.io/rules/10dlc/policy-page/pol-215/

## Why this rule exists

Without it a dispute starts with an argument about where the dispute happens, which is expensive before anything about the substance is discussed. It is also one of the clauses whose absence marks a document as generated rather than drafted, because generators frequently leave the jurisdiction as a placeholder.

## How to fix it

Name the state whose law governs and the courts that hear disputes. Done when neither is a placeholder.

## Example of a compliant value

```text
These terms are governed by the laws of the State of California, and disputes are heard in San Francisco County.
```