Legal Definitions - end user

An end user is the ultimate individual or entity that consumes or directly interacts with a product, service, or system for its intended purpose. This person or organization is at the final stage of the distribution or delivery chain, meaning they do not typically resell the item, incorporate it into another product for sale, or develop it further.

• Example 1 (Technology): A university purchases a license for a specialized statistical analysis program. The professors and graduate students who install and run the software on their computers to conduct research and analyze data are the end users. They are directly utilizing the program's features to perform their academic work, not to modify the software itself or distribute it commercially.

  Explanation: The university is the purchaser, but the professors and students are the ones who actually operate and benefit from the software's functionality, making them the final users in the chain.

• Example 2 (Consumer Product): A person buys a new smartphone from a retail store. When they activate the phone, make calls, send messages, and use various applications, they become the end user of that device. They are using the smartphone for its primary function as a personal communication and computing tool, rather than reselling it or dismantling it for parts.

  Explanation: The individual is the final consumer who directly interacts with and benefits from the product's features, fulfilling its intended purpose.

• Example 3 (Public Service): A city government implements a new online portal for residents to pay utility bills and apply for permits. The citizens who log into this portal to manage their accounts and submit applications are the end users of this digital service. They are directly accessing and utilizing the system to interact with municipal services.

  Explanation: The residents are the direct beneficiaries and operators of the online portal, using it for its designed function to access city services.