PLEASE NOTE: Legislative Information cannot perform research, provide legal advice, or interpret Maine law. For legal assistance, please contact a qualified attorney.
Amend the bill by striking out 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 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) Social networking services; and
 
(4) 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.  "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 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, 2014 under which a business makes an automatic renewal subscription offer to a consumer in this State.’
 
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 term 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.