An Act Regarding the Cancellation of Stbscription Services
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 1390
Committee Amendment CA_A_H498 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 993, L.D. 1390, Bill, "An Act 
Regarding the Cancellation of Stbscription Services" 
Amend the bill by striking Dut everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'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. 
"Automatic renewal subscription" means an agreement to provide any of the 
following goods or serviceB for a specified time and price that is automatically 
renewed at the end of a definite term for a subsequent term unless the consumer 
cancels the agreement: 
(1) Online magazines, journals and periodicals; 
(2) Online media playeni.;. 
(3) Social networking services; and 
(4) Internet game services. 
B. 
"Internet game service' means an online service that provides information, 
software, data, text, photogra.phs, graphics, audio or video that may be accessed by a 
consumer on a paid subscription basis for the purpose of allowing that consumer to 
playa single-player or multiplayer game through the Internet or to download a game 
for that consumer to play omine. "Internet game service" does not include online 
gambling or other gaming in which a person participates to win money. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 993, L.D. 1390 
C. 
"Online media player" means an online service that delivers audio or video 
content. 
D. "Social networking service" means an online service that facilitates the building 
of social relations and the sharing of information among specified groups of people. 
2. Method of cancellation of automatic renewal subscription. A business that 
makes an automatic renewal subscription offer to a consumer in this State shall present 
the consumer with an easily accessible disclosure of the methods the consumer may use 
to cancel the subscription. One of the methods of cancellation must provide for online 
cancellation of the subscription by any means of communicating information over a 
computer network. 
3. 
Exception. 
This section does nbt apply to an entity that provides the host 
platform on the website of an Internet game service. 
4. Violation. A violation of this section is a violation of the Maine Unfair Trade 
Practices Act. 
Sec. 2. Application. 
This Act applies only to an agreement entered into or 
renewed after January 1, 2014 under which a business makes an automatic renewal 
subscription offer to a consumer in this State. I 
SUMMARY 
This amendment makes the following changes to the bill: 
1. It removes from the provisions of the bill newspapers, magazines, journals and 
periodicals and online news sources, including online versions of newspapers, and cable 
and Internet services, but retains online magazines, journals and periodicals, online media 
players, social networking services and Internet game services; 
2. 
It restricts the application of the bill to only those subscriptions that are 
automatically renewed at the end of a definite tenn for a subsequent term, unless the 
consumer cancels the agreement; 
3. It removes provisions in the bill detailing the methods by which a subscriber must 
be allowed to cancel a subscription and instead requires a business that makes an 
automatic renewal subscription offer to a consumer in this State to present the consumer 
with an easily accessible disclosure of the methods the consumer may use to cancel the 
subscription, which must include online cancellation; and 
4. It adds an application section to provide that the Act only applies to agreements 
entered into or renewed after January 1, 2014. It provides that the provisions do not 
apply to an entity that provides the host platform on the website of an Internet game 
service. 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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Approved: 06/11/13 frac.. 
LD 1390 
LR 999(02) 
An Act Regarding the Cancellation of Subscription Services 
~ \ 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ,II, (H.,. LJ.~ 
Committee: Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic DeveloMnent 
Fisl~al Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Minor revenue increase - General Fund 
Correctional and Judicial Impact Statements 
Increases the number of civil penalties. 
The collection of additional fines may also increase General Fund revenue by minor amounts. 
LR0999(J2) - Fiscal Note - Palle 1 of 1