Usage Policy
Template & Content Usage Policy
Terms for using the companion templates and book content
Effective Date: November 2025
Overview
This Usage Policy governs your use of the templates, spreadsheets, documents, and other downloadable materials (“Templates”) provided as companions to the book When Clouds Fail: Hybrid Sovereignty, Multi-Cloud Resilience, and Agentic AI by Steve Oppenheim (“Author”).
By downloading or using any Templates, you agree to the terms outlined in this policy. These terms are designed to enable maximum use of these professional resources while ensuring proper attribution to the original work.
Free to Use
All Templates are provided free of charge for personal, internal business, educational, and commercial use—subject only to the attribution requirements described below.
Intellectual Property Ownership
This policy establishes a clear separation between ownership of the Template structure and ownership of data entered into Templates:
You Retain
Your Data
Any data, information, figures, or content that you enter into the Templates belongs entirely to you. The Author claims no ownership over your proprietary business data.
What This Means
You can freely use these Templates with your organization’s data. Your financial projections, vendor assessments, risk scores, and other entered data are yours alone. However, the Template framework itself—including its structure, design, formulas, and methodology—remains the Author’s intellectual property.
Permitted Uses
You are granted a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to:
- Download and use Templates for personal or internal business purposes
- Populate Templates with your own organizational data
- Modify Templates to suit your specific needs
- Share completed Templates (with your data) within your organization
- Use Templates in client engagements or consulting work
- Create derivative works based on the Templates
- Use Templates for educational or training purposes
All permitted uses are free of charge and require only proper attribution as described in Section 4.
Attribution Requirements
Proper attribution is required for all uses. The specific requirements depend on the type of use:
A. Internal Use
When using Templates internally within your organization, retain the original attribution notice contained within the Template (if present), or add a reference to the source in your documentation.
B. Public Distribution, Presentations, or Internet Posting
When publishing, presenting at conferences, displaying at trade shows, posting online, or otherwise distributing Templates or derivative works publicly, you MUST include a clear attribution referencing both the book and the author.
Required Attribution Elements:
- The book title: When Clouds Fail: Hybrid Sovereignty, Multi-Cloud Resilience, and Agentic AI
- The author name: Steve Oppenheim
- A link to the source (when digital format permits): https://whencloudsfail.opey.org
“This template is adapted from companion materials for When Clouds Fail: Hybrid Sovereignty, Multi-Cloud Resilience, and Agentic AI by Steve Oppenheim. Used with permission. Original templates available at whencloudsfail.opey.org.”
For presentations or printed materials where space is limited, a shorter attribution such as “Template source: When Clouds Fail by Steve Oppenheim” is acceptable.
Derivative Works & Adaptations
You may create derivative works based on the Templates, including:
- Translated versions in other languages
- Modified versions adapted for specific industries
- Condensed or expanded versions
- Reformatted versions for different software platforms
- Combined works incorporating multiple Templates
Derivative works must include attribution to the original source as specified in Section 4. You may distribute derivative works under the same terms as the original Templates.
Note on Endorsement
Attribution does not imply that the Author endorses you, your organization, or your specific use of the Templates. You may not suggest any endorsement relationship without explicit written permission.
Restrictions
The following uses are not permitted:
- Claiming original authorship of the Template structure, design, or methodology
- Removing or obscuring attribution notices from Templates
- Selling the Templates themselves (as distinct from services using the Templates)
- Using the Templates in any way that implies official endorsement by the Author without permission
- Using the Author’s name, likeness, or the book title in advertising without permission
Note: You MAY charge for consulting services, training, or other professional services that incorporate or utilize the Templates—this is expressly permitted under Section 3.
Book Content & Quotations
Content from the book When Clouds Fail (text, diagrams, frameworks, concepts) is protected by copyright. Brief quotations for purposes of commentary, criticism, education, or review are permitted under fair use principles, provided proper citation is given.
For substantial reproductions or commercial republication of book content, please contact the Author or publisher for permission.
Disclaimer of Warranties
The Templates are provided “as is” without warranty of any kind, express or implied. The Author makes no representations regarding the accuracy, completeness, or fitness for any particular purpose of the Templates.
Users are responsible for validating that the Templates meet their specific organizational and regulatory requirements. The Templates are intended as starting points and frameworks, not as substitutes for professional advice in legal, financial, or regulatory matters.
Questions & Permissions
For questions about this Usage Policy, requests for permissions beyond those granted here, or inquiries about speaking engagements and advisory services, please visit:
Summary
Use freely. Attribute properly. Your data is yours. The templates are mine. Everyone wins.