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Mucous cysts – common bumps near finger joints, often linked to arthritis, and treatment options.

Updated Aug 20262 citations
A hand-drawn illustration of a small cyst at the end-finger joint near the nail.
A mucous cyst on the thumb: a small fluid-filled bump that arises from the worn-out joint at the tip of the finger or thumb. Kieran Hirpara 4.0

What you're feeling

You may notice a small, firm lump on the top of your finger, usually near the last joint or close to your fingernail. This is a mucous cyst. It often feels like a tiny pea under the skin. The skin over it might look thin or shiny. Because it sits so close to the nail, it can press against the nail bed. This pressure often causes a visible groove or ridge in your nail plate. The nail may look uneven or split down the middle.

Pain is not always severe, but it can be persistent. You might feel a dull ache or tenderness when you press on the lump. The discomfort often worsens with activity. Tasks that require gripping or pinching can become difficult. For example, opening a stiff jar lid or twisting a bottle cap may hurt. Typing on a keyboard can also irritate the area if your fingers rest heavily on the keys. You might find yourself avoiding certain movements to protect the finger.

Sometimes the cyst can feel more prominent or tender after you have been using your hands all day. Resting the hand may bring some relief, but the lump itself rarely goes away on its own. If the cyst grows larger, it can interfere with how your finger bends. You might notice a slight stiffness in the last joint of your finger. This stiffness can make fine motor tasks, like buttoning a shirt or picking up small coins, more challenging.

In some cases, the cyst may become inflamed. The area might feel warm or look slightly red. If the skin over the cyst thins out significantly, there is a small risk of it draining clear fluid. This is not pus, but a jelly-like substance from the joint. While this can relieve pressure temporarily, it also creates a pathway for bacteria to enter the joint. This is why we advise against trying to pop or drain it yourself.

The symptoms can fluctuate. You might have days where the finger feels normal, followed by periods of increased discomfort. Because the cyst is linked to wear-and-tear arthritis in the joint, the symptoms may come and go over weeks or months. Ignoring it does not make it disappear. The underlying arthritis continues to produce fluid, which keeps filling the cyst. Understanding these signs helps you decide when to seek treatment before the nail damage becomes permanent.

What's actually happening

A mucous cyst is a small, fluid-filled sac that forms near your fingernail. It sits on the top of the joint closest to your nail bed. Think of this joint as a hinge covered by a protective capsule. This capsule keeps the joint lubricated and stable.

The cyst develops because of wear-and-tear arthritis in that joint. As the cartilage wears down, your body tries to repair the area by growing extra bone. These bony bumps are called osteophytes. They push against the joint capsule, creating pressure. This pressure forces joint fluid out through a weak spot in the capsule, forming the cyst.

You might notice the cyst looks like a small blister or a lump under the skin. It is often filled with thick, clear jelly-like fluid. Because it sits so close to the nail, it can press on the nail root. This pressure may cause grooves or ridges to form in your nail as it grows. In some cases, the cyst can weaken the skin, making it more likely to break open.

The underlying issue is the combination of the bony spur and the stretched joint capsule. The spur acts like a wedge, keeping the capsule under tension. This tension prevents the weak spot from healing naturally. The fluid continues to leak out, keeping the cyst present.

Removing just the cyst without addressing the bone spur often leads to recurrence. The pressure remains, and the fluid finds another way out. Similarly, removing only the bone spur may not be enough if the capsule remains damaged. The most effective approach addresses both the fluid sac and the source of the pressure. This involves removing the cyst and smoothing or removing the bony bump. In some cases, we also repair the joint capsule to seal the leak. This combined approach stops the fluid from re-accumulating and helps protect your nail health.

What we can do about it

Dr Kieran Hirpara, an upper-limb surgeon at Mater Private Hospital Rockhampton, starts with the least invasive options that suit your condition.

We begin with self-management and physiotherapy. You can try activity changes to reduce stress on the joint. Physiotherapy aims to keep the joint moving and strengthen the surrounding muscles. We usually recommend giving this approach a fair trial before considering other steps.

Medical management focuses on comfort. We may suggest pain medication or anti-inflammatories to help with swelling and discomfort. In some cases, we consider injections. Cortisone injections can reduce inflammation for a period of time. Hyaluronic acid injections may help lubricate the joint. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections use your own blood components to support healing. The length of relief varies, but these options can buy you time and reduce symptoms while you manage the condition.

We consider surgery when conservative care has not given enough improvement. Surgical treatment for mucous cysts is reliable. Excision of the cyst and removal of the bone spur (osteophyte) eradicates the cyst with extremely rare recurrence. A total dorsal capsulectomy alone is a simple treatment that does not lead to any recurrence. Surgical excision with a local advancement skin flap shows a low recurrence rate of 1.4% and high patient satisfaction regarding the scar. Osteophyte excision without cyst excision provides complete resolution in most cases. The Zitelli Bilobed Flap allows excision with no added risk to the nail matrix. A technique involving cyst excision, synovectomy, and débridement of osteophytes with rotational flap closure resulted in no recurrences in thirty-six patients. The use of a Wolfe Graft is simple and provides satisfactory cosmesis with acceptable recurrence rates. Osteophyte removal results in a low cyst recurrence rate, indicating it should be undertaken regardless of the plan for soft tissues. A successful result was obtained by surgical treatment for an intraneural mucoid cyst in the digital nerve.

Patients are generally referred to our clinic by their GP; if a physiotherapist has suggested you see us, you will still need a referral from your GP in order to be eligible for the Medicare rebate. A clinic assessment establishes the diagnosis. For degenerative or long-standing problems we usually try non-operative care and consider surgery when that has not given enough improvement. We present these options as a shared decision, ensuring you understand the benefits and risks of each path.

What to expect

A mucous cyst is a small, fluid-filled lump that usually forms near the tip of your finger or thumb. It sits on top of the joint and is linked to wear-and-tear arthritis. Without treatment, these cysts tend to persist. They may stay the same size, grow slowly, or occasionally shrink on their own. However, they rarely disappear completely without intervention. If left alone, the cyst can sometimes cause pain, stiffness, or thinning of the skin over the lump. In rare cases, the cyst may drain fluid onto the skin surface.

When managed with surgery, the outlook is generally positive. The goal is to remove the cyst and the underlying bony spur that causes it. This approach leads to extremely rare recurrence. Some techniques involve removing just the bony spur, which can resolve the issue in most cases with a less invasive method. Other methods use local skin flaps or grafts to cover the area, which patients report high satisfaction with regarding the scar appearance. Most people find they are willing to have the procedure again if needed.

Recurrence is uncommon but possible. When it does happen, it usually occurs early after the initial surgery. This is why regular follow-up appointments are important. Your surgeon will check the area to ensure the cyst has not returned and to monitor the healing skin. Malignant transformation is not a typical concern, but ongoing monitoring helps rule out any unusual changes.

Recovery involves a period of healing where you will notice the swelling going down and the scar maturing. While specific timelines vary, most patients see significant improvement in comfort and appearance over weeks to months. The skin may feel tight or numb initially, but sensation typically returns. By addressing the root cause—the arthritis and the cyst—you reduce the chance of it coming back. Your surgeon will guide you through the process to ensure the best possible outcome for your hand function and appearance.

When to see someone

Mucous cysts can show unclear signs, so a delay in diagnosis is common. See your GP if you notice a new lump near your fingernail or joint. Your surgeon will check for wear-and-tear arthritis, which often causes these cysts. Regular follow-up is important to ensure the cyst does not return or change. Most returns happen early after treatment. If you have had surgery, watch for any new swelling or pain. Early attention helps prevent complications and keeps your finger healthy.

Advanced reading: the deeper science (optional)

This section goes further than you need for your own treatment decisions. Mucous cysts are worth the extra reading because of a small, well-supported surgical insight: the cyst is not the problem, and the operation that works best does not necessarily remove it.

The bone spur is the cause, not the cyst

A mucous cyst arises from an arthritic fingertip joint. A bony spur — an osteophyte — irritates and perforates the joint capsule, and joint fluid tracks out through the defect and collects under the skin. The cyst is the visible end of that process, not its origin.

That understanding has a direct surgical consequence, demonstrated in a series where osteophyte excision without cyst excision produced complete resolution in most cases, and was described as a good treatment choice offering a less invasive method [1].

Removing the spur closes the tap. The cyst, no longer being filled, resolves. This is the same logic that governs the wrist ganglion, where the stalk rather than the sac determines recurrence — and it explains why simply draining or puncturing a mucous cyst so reliably fails.

Where the cyst is excised, results are also good

The alternative approach removes the cyst along with a local skin flap to close the defect. That is also reliable: across 69 patients, surgical excision with a local advancement flap showed a recurrence rate of 1.4% with high patient satisfaction regarding the scar and willingness to undergo the procedure again [2].

Both approaches work, and both address the underlying joint. The practical difference is how much skin is involved: a long-standing cyst thins the overlying skin, sometimes to the point of discharging, and in that situation the thinned skin needs excising and replacing regardless of what is done to the bone.

Why the nail becomes deformed, and whether it recovers

A groove or ridge running the length of the nail is a common accompaniment, and it worries people more than the lump. The cause is mechanical: the cyst sits immediately over the germinal matrix — the part of the nail bed that generates the nail — and presses on it, so the nail is produced with a defect.

The useful part is that this is pressure rather than destruction. Once the cyst is decompressed, the nail typically grows out normally, though it takes several months for the deformed portion to grow off the end. A nail deformity is therefore a reason to treat the cyst rather than a permanent consequence of it.

The reason to be careful about puncturing one

A mucous cyst communicates directly with the joint. Puncturing it — deliberately, or by the skin breaking down over a large one — creates a channel from the outside world into a finger joint, and septic arthritis of a small joint is a considerably more serious problem than the cyst.

This is the practical argument against home drainage of a cyst that appears to be simply a blister of fluid, and the reason a spontaneously discharging cyst is treated with some urgency rather than watched.

Reviewed by AI synthesis (v2) — pending human review · 18 May 2026.

Want the clinical detail? Read the clinician version.

Talk to your treating clinician for advice specific to you.

For an appointment with the CQ Hand + Upper Limb team, ask your GP about a referral or visit www.cqupperlimb.com.

References for the advanced reading
  1. Lee H, Kim P, Jeon I, Kyung H, Ra I, Kim T. Osteophyte excision without cyst excision for a mucous cyst of the finger. J Hand Surg Eur Vol. 2013;39(3):258-61.
  2. Johnson SM, Treon K, Thomas S, Cox QGN. A reliable surgical treatment for digital mucous cysts. J Hand Surg Eur Vol. 2013;39(8):856-60.
Evidence & references

This is the clinical evidence summary written for health professionals. It is technical, and it lists the research this page was built from. You do not need to read it to understand your treatment or to make a decision about it.

Overview

  • Scientific data regarding mucous cysts consist almost entirely of retrospective studies [1].
  • Much of the management or recommendations for mucous cysts is based on expert opinion [1].
  • Total dorsal capsulectomy alone is a simple treatment for mucous cysts that does not lead to any recurrence [2].
  • Excision of the cyst combined with complete removal of the marginal osteophyte eradicates mucous cysts with extremely rare recurrence [3].
  • Osteophyte excision without cyst excision may be a good treatment choice for mucous cysts of the finger, providing a less invasive method with complete resolution in most cases [5].
  • Osteophyte removal results in a low cyst recurrence rate, indicating it should be undertaken regardless of the surgeon's plan for the soft tissues [13].
  • The Zitelli bilobed flap allows excision of the cyst and thinned skin with no added risk to the nail matrix [6].
  • The use of a Wolfe graft for mucous cysts is simple, easy to perform, and provides satisfactory cosmesis with acceptable recurrence rates [7].
  • Surgical excision with a local advancement skin flap is a reliable treatment for digital mucous cysts, demonstrating a low recurrence rate of 1.4% and high patient satisfaction regarding the scar and willingness to undergo the procedure again [9].
  • A surgical technique involving excision of the cyst, synovectomy, and débridement of osteophytes with rotational flap closure resulted in no recurrences in thirty-six patients [10].
  • Pathohistological analysis is useful in cases where doubts arise about the initial diagnosis of a benign tumorous lesion [4].
  • Eccrine porocarcinomas have a substantial risk of metastasis, high risk of local recurrence, and are potentially fatal [8].

Anatomy & Pathophysiology

  • Mucous cysts are associated with marginal osteophytes at the distal interphalangeal joint [3].
  • The primary pathology in mucous cysts involves osteophytes, and removal of these osteophytes allows for skin recovery potential [20].
  • Ultrasound is a powerful modality for evaluating pathologic conditions in the hand and wrist [16].
  • Ultrasound provides a cost-effective and expedient alternative or adjunct to MRI for hand and wrist evaluation [16].
  • Ultrasound is best used when there is a specific clinical question regarding a well-localized abnormality [16].
  • Subungual keratoacanthoma may show locally aggressive behaviour but does not metastasize [14].

Classification

  • Osteophyte excision without cyst excision may be a good treatment choice for mucous cyst of the finger, providing a less invasive method with complete resolution in most cases [5].
  • The use of a Wolfe graft is simple, easy to perform, and provides satisfactory cosmesis with acceptable recurrence rates [7].
  • There is a statistically significant difference in recurrence rates between Type I giant cell tumours of the tendon sheath (0%) and Type II tumours (38%) [11].
  • Recurrence in Type II giant cell tumours of the tendon sheath is likely due to undetected satellite lesions or incomplete excision [11].
  • Incomplete excision of a granular cell nerve tumor can lead to recurrence [12].
  • Osteophyte removal results in a low cyst recurrence rate [13].
  • Osteophyte removal should be undertaken regardless of the surgeon's plan for the soft tissues [13].

Clinical Presentation

  • Malignant natural-killer cell neoplasms can present as a mucous cyst on the distal interphalangeal joint of the finger [4].
  • Eccrine porocarcinomas can present as a hand cyst [8].
  • Subungual keratoacanthoma may present as a condition masquerading as flexor tenosynovitis in the finger [14].
  • Ultrasound is a powerful modality for the evaluation of pathologic conditions in the hand and wrist [16].
  • Ultrasound provides a cost-effective and expedient alternative and/or adjunct to MRI for hand and wrist evaluation [16].
  • Ultrasound is best used when there is a specific clinical question regarding a well-localized abnormality in the hand or wrist [16].

Investigations

  • Much of the management of mucous cysts is based on expert opinion [1].
  • Pathohistological analysis is useful when doubts arise about the initial diagnosis of a benign tumorous lesion [4].
  • Ultrasound is a powerful modality for evaluation of pathologic conditions in the hand and wrist [16].
  • Ultrasound provides a cost-effective and expedient alternative and/or adjunct to MRI [16].

Treatment

  • Scientific data regarding mucous cysts consist almost entirely of retrospective studies, and much of what is done or recommended is based on expert opinion [1].
  • Excision of the cyst and complete removal of the marginal osteophyte eradicates mucous cysts with extremely rare recurrence [3].
  • Osteophyte removal results in a low cyst recurrence rate, indicating that it should be undertaken regardless of the surgeon's plan for the soft tissues [13].
  • Use of Wolfe graft is simple, easy to perform, and provides satisfactory cosmesis with acceptable recurrence rates [7].

Complications

  • Scientific data regarding mucous cysts consist almost entirely of retrospective studies, with many recommendations based on expert opinion [1].
  • Total dorsal capsulectomy alone for mucous cysts did not lead to any recurrence [2].
  • Osteophyte excision without cyst excision may provide complete resolution in most cases [5].
  • Use of a Wolfe graft provides satisfactory cosmesis with acceptable recurrence rates [7].
  • Surgical excision with a local advancement skin flap demonstrates a low recurrence rate of 1.4% and high patient satisfaction regarding the scar [9].
  • Incomplete excision can lead to recurrence of granular cell nerve tumors [12].
  • Type II giant cell tumors of the tendon sheath have a 38% recurrence rate, likely due to undetected satellite lesions or incomplete excision [11].
  • Malignant natural-killer cell neoplasms can present as mucous cysts on the distal interphalangeal joint [4].

Recovery

  • Much of the treatment for mucous cysts is based on expert opinion [1].
  • Incomplete excision can lead to recurrence in granular cell nerve tumors [12].

Key Evidence

  • [L4] The scientific data regarding mucous cysts consist almost entirely of retrospective studies, and much of what is done or recommended is based on expert opinion. [1] (10.1016/j.jhsa.2010.01.029)
  • [L4] A total dorsal capsulectomy alone was a simple treatment for mucous cysts and did not lead to any recurrence. [2] (10.1016/j.jhsa.2014.03.004)
  • [L4] Excision of the cyst and complete removal of the marginal osteophyte eradicates mucous cysts with extremely rare recurrence. [3] (10.2106/00004623-197355030-00013)
  • [L5] This case emphasizes the utility of a pathohistological analysis in cases where doubts arise about the initial diagnosis of a benign tumorous lesion. [4] (10.1007/s00402-008-0794-4)
  • [L4] Osteophyte excision without cyst excision may be a good treatment choice for mucous cyst of the finger, providing a less invasive method with complete resolution in most cases. [5] (10.1177/1753193413478549)
  • [L4] It allows excision of the cyst and thinned skin with no added risk to the nail matrix. [6] (10.1016/j.jhsa.2017.03.013)
  • [L4] The technique is simple, easy to perform, and provides satisfactory cosmesis with acceptable recurrence rates. [7] (10.1177/1753193408103498)
  • [L4] Prompt recognition and appropriate treatment are critical because eccrine porocarcinomas have a substantial risk of metastasis, high risk of local recurrence, and are potentially fatal. [8] (10.1016/j.jhsa.2016.07.112)
  • [L4] Surgical excision with a local advancement skin flap is a reliable treatment for digital mucous cysts, demonstrating a low recurrence rate of 1.4% and high patient satisfaction regarding the scar and willingness to undergo the procedure again. [9] (10.1177/1753193413508540)
  • [L4] A new surgical technique involving excision of the cyst, synovectomy, and débridement of osteophytes with rotational flap closure resulted in no recurrences in thirty-six patients. [10] (10.2106/00004623-197254070-00008)
  • [L3] The study found a statistically significant difference in recurrence rates between Type I tumours (0%) and Type II tumours (38%), with recurrence in Type II likely due to undetected satellite lesions or incomplete excision. [11] (10.1054/jhsb.2000.0522)
  • [Case_report] The author notes that while the true recurrence rate is unknown, incomplete excision can lead to recurrence. [12] (10.1016/j.jhsa.2009.05.011)
  • [Commentary] The article shows that osteophyte removal results in a low cyst recurrence rate, indicating that it should be undertaken regardless of the surgeon's plan for the soft tissues. [13] (10.1177/1753193413510663)
  • [L4] Subungual keratoacanthoma may show locally aggressive behaviour but does not metastasize. [14] (10.1177/1753193409360605)
  • [L5] Ultrasound is a powerful modality for evaluation of pathologic conditions in the hand and wrist, providing a cost-effective and expedient alternative and/or adjunct to MRI, best used when there is a specific clinical question regarding a well-localized abnormality. [16] (10.1016/j.jhsa.2009.02.010)
  • [L5] The authors of the original study believe that extensive damage to the skin is unnecessary and that the skin has recovery potential once the main problem (osteophytes) is removed, favoring a less invasive approach over techniques requiring skin flaps. [20] (10.1177/1753193414546443)

References

[1] Mucous Cysts. The Journal of Hand Surgery. 2010. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2010.01.029

[2] Total Dorsal Capsulectomy for the Treatment of Mucous Cysts. The Journal of Hand Surgery. 2014. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2014.03.004

[3] Marginal Osteophyte Excision in Treatment of Mucous Cysts. The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. 1973. DOI: 10.2106/00004623-197355030-00013

[4] Malignant Natural-Killer cell neoplasm presenting as a mucous cyst on the distal interphalangeal joint of the finger. Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery. 2008. DOI: 10.1007/s00402-008-0794-4

[5] Osteophyte excision without cyst excision for a mucous cyst of the finger. Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume). 2013. DOI: 10.1177/1753193413478549

[6] The Zitelli Bilobed Flap on Skin Coverage After Mucous Cyst Excision: A Retrospective Cohort of 33 Cases. The Journal of Hand Surgery. 2017. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2017.03.013

[7] Use of Wolfe Graft for the Treatment of Mucous Cysts. Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume). 2009. DOI: 10.1177/1753193408103498

[8] Eccrine Porocarcinoma Presenting as a Hand Cyst. The Journal of Hand Surgery. 2016. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2016.07.112

[9] A reliable surgical treatment for digital mucous cysts. Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume). 2013. DOI: 10.1177/1753193413508540

[10] Etiology and Treatment of the So-Called Mucous Cyst of the Finger. The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. 1972. DOI: 10.2106/00004623-197254070-00008

[11] Giant Cell Tumours of Tendon Sheath: Classification and Recurrence Rate. Journal of Hand Surgery. 2001. DOI: 10.1054/jhsb.2000.0522

[12] Granular Cell Nerve Tumor in the Hand: Case Report. The Journal of Hand Surgery. 2009. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2009.05.011

[13] Commentary on Lee et al. Osteophyte excision without cyst excision for a mucous cyst of the finger. Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume). 2014. DOI: 10.1177/1753193413510663

[14] Metastases to the finger masquerading as flexor tenosynovitis. Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume). 2010. DOI: 10.1177/1753193409360605

[16] Ultrasound of the Hand and Wrist. The Journal of Hand Surgery. 2009. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2009.02.010

[20] Re: Lee HJ, Kim PT, Jeon IH, et al. Osteophyte excision without cyst excision for a mucous cyst of the finger. J Hand Surg Eur. 2014, 39: 258–61. Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume). 2014. DOI: 10.1177/1753193414546443

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c. indicate the Licensed Material is licensed under this Public License, and include the text of, or the URI or hyperlink to, this Public License.

2. You may satisfy the conditions in Section 3(a)(1) in any reasonable manner based on the medium, means, and context in which You Share the Licensed Material. For example, it may be reasonable to satisfy the conditions by providing a URI or hyperlink to a resource that includes the required information.

3. If requested by the Licensor, You must remove any of the information required by Section 3(a)(1)(A) to the extent reasonably practicable.

4. If You Share Adapted Material You produce, the Adapter's License You apply must not prevent recipients of the Adapted Material from complying with this Public License.

Section 4 -- Sui Generis Database Rights.

Where the Licensed Rights include Sui Generis Database Rights that apply to Your use of the Licensed Material:

a. for the avoidance of doubt, Section 2(a)(1) grants You the right to extract, reuse, reproduce, and Share all or a substantial portion of the contents of the database for NonCommercial purposes only;

b. if You include all or a substantial portion of the database contents in a database in which You have Sui Generis Database Rights, then the database in which You have Sui Generis Database Rights (but not its individual contents) is Adapted Material; and

c. You must comply with the conditions in Section 3(a) if You Share all or a substantial portion of the contents of the database.

For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 4 supplements and does not replace Your obligations under this Public License where the Licensed Rights include other Copyright and Similar Rights.

Section 5 -- Disclaimer of Warranties and Limitation of Liability.

a. UNLESS OTHERWISE SEPARATELY UNDERTAKEN BY THE LICENSOR, TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE, THE LICENSOR OFFERS THE LICENSED MATERIAL AS-IS AND AS-AVAILABLE, AND MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND CONCERNING THE LICENSED MATERIAL, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, STATUTORY, OR OTHER. THIS INCLUDES, WITHOUT LIMITATION, WARRANTIES OF TITLE, MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, ABSENCE OF LATENT OR OTHER DEFECTS, ACCURACY, OR THE PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF ERRORS, WHETHER OR NOT KNOWN OR DISCOVERABLE. WHERE DISCLAIMERS OF WARRANTIES ARE NOT ALLOWED IN FULL OR IN PART, THIS DISCLAIMER MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

b. TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE, IN NO EVENT WILL THE LICENSOR BE LIABLE TO YOU ON ANY LEGAL THEORY (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, NEGLIGENCE) OR OTHERWISE FOR ANY DIRECT, SPECIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY, OR OTHER LOSSES, COSTS, EXPENSES, OR DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THIS PUBLIC LICENSE OR USE OF THE LICENSED MATERIAL, EVEN IF THE LICENSOR HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH LOSSES, COSTS, EXPENSES, OR DAMAGES. WHERE A LIMITATION OF LIABILITY IS NOT ALLOWED IN FULL OR IN PART, THIS LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

c. The disclaimer of warranties and limitation of liability provided above shall be interpreted in a manner that, to the extent possible, most closely approximates an absolute disclaimer and waiver of all liability.

Section 6 -- Term and Termination.

a. This Public License applies for the term of the Copyright and Similar Rights licensed here. However, if You fail to comply with this Public License, then Your rights under this Public License terminate automatically.

b. Where Your right to use the Licensed Material has terminated under Section 6(a), it reinstates:

1. automatically as of the date the violation is cured, provided it is cured within 30 days of Your discovery of the violation; or

2. upon express reinstatement by the Licensor.

For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 6(b) does not affect any right the Licensor may have to seek remedies for Your violations of this Public License.

c. For the avoidance of doubt, the Licensor may also offer the Licensed Material under separate terms or conditions or stop distributing the Licensed Material at any time; however, doing so will not terminate this Public License.

d. Sections 1, 5, 6, 7, and 8 survive termination of this Public License.

Section 7 -- Other Terms and Conditions.

a. The Licensor shall not be bound by any additional or different terms or conditions communicated by You unless expressly agreed.

b. Any arrangements, understandings, or agreements regarding the Licensed Material not stated herein are separate from and independent of the terms and conditions of this Public License.

Section 8 -- Interpretation.

a. For the avoidance of doubt, this Public License does not, and shall not be interpreted to, reduce, limit, restrict, or impose conditions on any use of the Licensed Material that could lawfully be made without permission under this Public License.

b. To the extent possible, if any provision of this Public License is deemed unenforceable, it shall be automatically reformed to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable. If the provision cannot be reformed, it shall be severed from this Public License without affecting the enforceability of the remaining terms and conditions.

c. No term or condition of this Public License will be waived and no failure to comply consented to unless expressly agreed to by the Licensor.

d. Nothing in this Public License constitutes or may be interpreted as a limitation upon, or waiver of, any privileges and immunities that apply to the Licensor or You, including from the legal processes of any jurisdiction or authority.

Creative Commons is not a party to its public licenses. Notwithstanding, Creative Commons may elect to apply one of its public licenses to material it publishes and in those instances will be considered the “Licensor.” The text of the Creative Commons public licenses is dedicated to the public domain under the CC0 Public Domain Dedication. Except for the limited purpose of indicating that material is shared under a Creative Commons public license or as otherwise permitted by the Creative Commons policies published at creativecommons.org/policies, Creative Commons does not authorize the use of the trademark "Creative Commons" or any other trademark or logo of Creative Commons without its prior written consent including, without limitation, in connection with any unauthorized modifications to any of its public licenses or any other arrangements, understandings, or agreements concerning use of licensed material. For the avoidance of doubt, this paragraph does not form part of the public licenses.

Creative Commons may be contacted at creativecommons.org.