An Act Regarding the Cancellation of Subscription Services
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 1390
Committee: Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development
Sponsors: DAUGHTRY, CHENETTE, EVANGELOS, PLANTE, POULIOT, JOHNSON

Legislative Document 
No. 1390 
H.P. 993 
House of Representatives, April 10, 2013 
An Act Regarding the Cancellation of Subscription Services 
Reference to the Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development 
suggested and ordered printed. 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative DAUGHTRY of Brunswick. 
Cosponsored by Representatives: CHENETTE of Saco, EVANGELOS of Friendship, 
PLANTE of Berwick, POULIOT of Augusta, Senator: JOHNSON of Lincoln. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  10 MRSA c. 208-C is enacted to read: 
CHAPTER 208-C 
SUBSCRIPTIONS 
§1299.  Cancellation of subscriptions 
1.  Definitions.  As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the 
following terms have the following meanings. 
A.  "Internet gaming service" means an online service that provides information, 
software, data, text, photographs, graphics, audio or video that may be accessed by a 
person for the purpose of allowing that person to play a single-player or multiplayer 
game through the Internet or to download a game for that person to play offline.  
"Internet gaming service" does not include online gambling or other gaming in which 
a person participates to win money. 
B.  "Online media player" means an online service that delivers audio or video 
content. 
C.  "Social networking service" means an online service that facilitates the building 
of social relations and the sharing of information among specified groups of people. 
D.  "Subscription" means an agreement to provide any of the following goods or 
services for a specified time and price: 
(1) Newspapers, magazines, journals and periodicals and online news sources, 
including, but not limited to, online versions of newspapers, magazines, journals 
and periodicals; 
(2) Cable or Internet services; 
(3) Online media players; 
(4) Social networking services; 
(5) Internet gaming services; and  
(6) Other Internet subscriptions. 
2.  Method of cancellation of subscription.  A person that provides goods or 
services pursuant to a subscription shall provide to a subscriber: 
A.  At the time the subscription starts, information regarding how the subscriber may 
cancel the subscription; 
B.  A secure, prominently displayed and easy-to-use method on the person's website 
that allows the subscriber to cancel the subscription immediately without having to 
send a letter by the United States Postal Service or other delivery service or to make a 
telephone call; and 
C.  The option to cancel the subscription using the same method that was used to start 
the subscription. 
3.  Violation.  A violation of this section is a violation of the Maine Unfair Trade 
Practices Act. 
SUMMARY 
This bill requires a person that provides certain goods or services pursuant to a 
subscription to provide to a subscriber, at the time the subscription starts, information 
regarding how the subscriber may cancel the subscription; a secure, prominently 
displayed and easy-to-use method on the person's website that allows the subscriber to 
cancel the subscription immediately without having to send a letter by the United States 
Postal Service or other delivery service or to make a telephone call; and the option to 
cancel the subscription using the same method that was used to start the subscription.  A 
violation of the provisions of the bill is a violation of the Maine Unfair Trade Practices 
Act.