TL;DR
A user on Hacker News shared that they lost access to their Claude Design projects after canceling their subscription. This is the first reported case of such an issue, raising questions about data access policies post-subscription.
A user on Hacker News has reported losing access to their projects on Claude Design after canceling their subscription, marking the first known incident of its kind and raising concerns about data access policies.
The user, identified as pycassa, detailed that after unsubscribing from Claude Design, they could no longer access their previous projects. They noted that this was unusual because, historically, they had retained access to past sessions after unsubscribing from other large language model (LLM) services. The user also mentioned trying out Codex, which involved credits that expired after the plan ended, but emphasized that even after resubscribing, access to those credits was not restored.
The user expressed frustration, noting that they had previously had access to all their projects and sessions, and that this incident appears to be an anomaly or policy change specific to Claude Design. They also criticized the complexity of billing and rate-limiting systems in such services, which they believe can lead to user access issues and bugs.
Why It Matters
This report is significant because it raises questions about how AI service providers manage user data and access after subscription cancellations. If users lose access to their projects without clear notice or data migration options, it could impact trust and usage. The incident also highlights broader concerns about data retention policies in AI platforms, which are often opaque or poorly communicated.

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Background
Claude Design is an AI platform offering creative and coding assistance, with subscription plans that include project storage and credits. Until now, there have been no publicly reported issues regarding access to user data after unsubscribing. The incident comes amid ongoing discussions about data privacy, user rights, and platform policies in the AI industry.
“I wanted to try codex after 5 months of claude code max subscription. And then I went back to my previous projects on claude design only to realize I don’t have access to them anymore.”
— pycassa
“Having worked at a billing company, I can see how complex contracts sound good for growth but are also horrible for engineers actually implementing those contracts.”
— pycassa

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What Remains Unclear
It is not yet clear whether this incident is an isolated case or indicative of a broader policy change at Claude Design. The platform has not issued an official statement addressing user data retention or access policies post-cancellation. Details about the platform’s terms of service regarding data access after unsubscribing remain unclear.

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What’s Next
Further investigation is needed to determine whether other users have experienced similar issues. Users and stakeholders will likely await official clarification from Claude Design regarding their data access policies. The platform may issue a statement or update their policies to address these concerns.

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Key Questions
Can users access their projects after unsubscribing from Claude Design?
It is currently unclear if this is a platform-wide policy or an isolated incident. Users are advised to review the terms of service or contact support for clarification.
Did the user lose data because of a bug or policy change?
There is no official confirmation yet. The incident could be due to a policy change, a bug, or a combination of both. Further details from Claude Design are awaited.
What should users do to protect their data?
Users should regularly back up their projects and confirm data retention policies before canceling subscriptions, especially if access to past work is critical.
Is this issue likely to affect other users?
It remains to be seen. As this is the first publicly reported case, broader impact is unclear. Monitoring official updates from Claude Design is recommended.