An Act Regarding the Cancellation of Subscription Services
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 0771
Committee: Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business
Sponsors: DAUGHTRY

Legislative Document
No. 771
H.P. 576
House of Representatives, February 12, 2019
An Act Regarding the Cancellation of Subscription Services
Reference to the Committee on Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and 
Business suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative DAUGHTRY of Brunswick.
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.  "Automatic renewal subscription" means an agreement to provide any of the 
following goods or services 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 players;
(3)  Mobile apps;
(4)  Social networking services; and
(5)  Internet game services.
B.  "Internet game service" means an online service that provides information, 
software, data, text, photographs, graphics, audio or video that may be accessed by a 
consumer on a paid subscription basis for the purpose of allowing that consumer to 
play a single-player or multiplayer game through the Internet or to download a game 
for that consumer to play offline.  "Internet game service" does not include online 
gambling or other gaming in which a person participates to win money.
C.  "Mobile app" means a software application designed to be operated on a mobile 
device such as a smartphone.
D.  "Online media player" means an online service that delivers audio or video 
content.
E.  "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 
that consumer with an easily accessible disclosure of the methods that 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 not 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, 2020 under which a business makes an automatic renewal 
subscription offer to a consumer in this State.
SUMMARY
This bill requires a business that makes an automatic renewal subscription offer of an 
online magazine, journal or periodical, online media player, mobile app, social 
networking service or Internet game service to present a consumer in this State with an 
easily accessible disclosure of the methods that consumer may use to cancel the 
subscription, which must include online cancellation.
The bill applies only to agreements entered into or renewed after January 1, 2020 and 
does not apply to an entity that provides the host platform on the website of an Internet 
game service.