Note that this is a slightly different way to phrase the actual ToS [1]:
You may not copy, modify, create derivative works based upon, distribute, sell, lease, or sublicense any of our software or services. You also may not reverse engineer or decompile our software or services, attempt to do so, or assist anyone in doing so, unless you have our written consent or applicable law permits it.
In the other words, they want to disallow derivative works as long as law permits. There are two possible workarounds:
1. If your software doesn't actually depend on Discord clients and servers at all, for example AutoHotKey macros, you would be probably fine as they wouldn't be derivative works. Legal 3rd-party clients may be created with this way (I haven't seen any such attempts though); create a virtual desktop where the official client runs and reconstruct an alternative interface from screen captures, in principle.
2. They can only do things allowed by the law. Reverse engineering in particular is allowed in many jurisdictions when it's necessary to operate with other programs or devices, and a virtual desktop mentioned in 1 may qualify for this (but: IANAL). If a broader allowance is desired though, the law has to be changed.
>We reserve the right to block, remove, and/or permanently delete your content for any reason, including breach of these terms, our Community Guidelines, our other policies, or any applicable law or regulation.
This is a wrong paragraph to cite, because "your content" does not include an "account" (the ToS is very clear about this). The relevant paragraph would be the following:
Subject to applicable law, we reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account and/or your access to some or all of our services with or without notice, at our discretion, including if:
- You breach these terms, our policies, or additional terms that apply to specific products.
- We’re required to do so to comply with a legal requirement or court order.
- We reasonably believe termination is necessary to prevent harm to you, us, other users, or third parties.
- Your account has been inactive for more than two years.
Given the current ToS using a third-party client already qualifies as an explicit reason for the account suspension and it doesn't seem to be wise to risk that. Yes, they still reserve the right to suspend your account for other unstated reasons, but that's another matter.
You may not copy, modify, create derivative works based upon, distribute, sell, lease, or sublicense any of our software or services. You also may not reverse engineer or decompile our software or services, attempt to do so, or assist anyone in doing so, unless you have our written consent or applicable law permits it.
In the other words, they want to disallow derivative works as long as law permits. There are two possible workarounds:
1. If your software doesn't actually depend on Discord clients and servers at all, for example AutoHotKey macros, you would be probably fine as they wouldn't be derivative works. Legal 3rd-party clients may be created with this way (I haven't seen any such attempts though); create a virtual desktop where the official client runs and reconstruct an alternative interface from screen captures, in principle.
2. They can only do things allowed by the law. Reverse engineering in particular is allowed in many jurisdictions when it's necessary to operate with other programs or devices, and a virtual desktop mentioned in 1 may qualify for this (but: IANAL). If a broader allowance is desired though, the law has to be changed.
[1] https://discord.com/terms