Podcast - The FTC's Click to Cancel Proposal
Autorenewals Crossover Episode with The Crypto Exchange - The Consumer Finance Podcast
Companies that care about avoiding Federal Trade Commission (FTC) action should take heed. Last month, the FTC announced an $8.5 million settlement with Care.com, resolving claims challenging its advertising claims and...more
In June 2024, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Justice jointly filed a complaint under the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act (ROSCA) in the US District Court for the Northern District of...more
The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCCA) has recently received royal assent, following the announcement of the July General Election. We examine the key developments in our previous article. One very...more
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has made clear its focus on automatic renewal programs with high-profile lawsuits in recent weeks, alleging violations of the Restore Online Shoppers' Confidence Act (ROSCA). Below are some...more
The California legislature recently renewed its efforts to regulate automatic renewal programs with proposed amendments to its Automatic Renewal Law (ARL). This development does not follow any lack of attention to this area...more
In the wake of increasing continuity billing practice complaints, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) is again taking a hard look at the space. The FTC has once again reviewed its 1973 Negative Option Rule, which was...more
Last week, California's legislature proposed amendments to its Automatic Renewal Law (ARL) to tighten the already-strict requirements for autorenewal, negative option, and continuous service offers. The law would impose new...more
Morrison Foerster’s State and Local Government Task Force is pleased to provide our bimonthly newsletter summarizing some of the most important and interesting developments from state attorneys general across the country and...more
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), state attorneys general, and class action plaintiffs continue to scrutinize negative option and continuity offers. Negative option marketing can include pre-notification negative option...more
We love two-parters. Who shot J.R.? Who shot Montgomery Burns? Well, perhaps this one won’t be quite as much fun – but checking in on FTC rulemakings also warrants the two-parter treatment. ...more
During the last several years, many states have adopted automatic renewal contract, or ARC, laws for the protection of consumers, driven in large part by new subscription-based contracts sold in digital distribution and...more
It’s that time of year again. Regardless of what you call them—subscriptions, negative option programs, automatic renewals, or continuous service offers—states are continuing to enact and enforce new laws with increasingly...more
Recently, the State of New York enacted SB 5941-B (the “Act”), which revises the general business law, focusing on the obligation of businesses to inform consumers about an impending automatic renewal or continuous service...more
In the United States, consumer-facing companies must comply with not just one set of laws but the laws of all 50 states. Eversheds Sutherland presents periodic consumer-related updates to inform companies entering or already...more
In March, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) asked for comments on a proposal to replace the Prenotification Negative Option Rule with a more expansive Negative Option Rule. Now that the FTC has had the chance to review those...more
On November 30, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell (the “AGO”) unveiled a new proposed rule regulating “junk fees” and consumer subscriptions (the “Proposed Rule”). The Proposed Rule in large part mimics, and in...more
Subscription services, initially marketed as a cheaper, more accessible option, have recently been experiencing a price surge. In 2023, top subscription apps like Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTubeTV, Netflix, Peacock, HBO...more
On June 23, 2023, a bipartisan coalition of 26 state attorneys general (AGs) submitted comments in support of the FTC’s amendments to the Negative Option Rule (Rule). Though the AGs assert that the FTC’s requirements under...more
On June 28, the Connecticut governor signed HB 5314 (the “Act”), enacting measures relating to automatic renewal offers and consumer agreements. The Act, among other things, includes newly defined terms such as “automatic...more
The New York and Pennsylvania state attorneys general recently led a bipartisan coalition of 26 state AGs in a letter, supporting the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)’s proposed rule amending the Negative Option Rule....more
On June 26, a coalition of 26 state attorneys general from New York, Pennsylvania, Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts,...more
Last week, the FTC filed a civil case against Amazon alleging that the company used “dark patterns” to enroll people in its Prime program. The case continues a pattern initiated by FTC Chair Lina Khan of challenging...more
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) last week filed a civil case against Amazon alleging that the company used “manipulative, coercive, or deceptive user-interface designs known as ‘dark patterns’ to trick consumers into...more
Key Takeaways - In its current form, the Negative Option Rule covers only a narrow category of negative option marketing – prenotification negative option plans. The FTC’s proposed Rule seeks to synthesize all of the...more
In 2017, the FTC announced that Adore Me, an online lingerie company, had agreed to return more than $1.3 million to customers who enrolled in a negative-option membership program offering discounts and other benefits. Almost...more