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10.17.24
California Amends Automatic Renewal Law (Again)
On September 24, 2024, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Assembly Bill No. 2863, which amends California’s Automatic Renewal Law (ARL), California Business and Professions Code Section 17600 et seq. Many of the amendment’s requirements are similar to those included in the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC’s) recent amendments to the Negative Option Rule (FTC Rule), but there are important differences. Businesses operating in California should prepare to comply with both rules, given that the FTC Rule does not preempt consistent provisions of the ARL. The new law takes effect on July 1, 2025, and will have implications for companies that offer subscriptions or other services that automatically renew.
Alerts
6.27.23
FTC Alleges Amazon Prime Subscription and Cancellation Screens Violate Federal Law
The recent suit filed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) represents the latest guidance in the rapidly evolving patchwork of federal and state laws that govern online subscription models. Any company offering subscription services should take note. In addition to increased activity by federal and state regulators regarding subscription services, plaintiff firms representing consumers remain incredibly active in filing lawsuits and demanding substantial settlement payments when customer-facing sites do not strictly comply with the emerging requirements for subscription-based services.
Alerts
10.20.21
Amended California Automatic Renewal Law (ARL) Takes Effect in 2022
On October 4, 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Assembly Bill No. 390, which amends California's Automatic Renewal Law (ARL), California Business and Professions Code Section 17600 et seq. The new law takes effect on July 1, 2022 and will have implications for companies that offer subscriptions or other services that automatically renew.
Alerts
6.03.20
Executive Order Directed to Section 230 to Increase Regulatory Scrutiny of Online Services
On May 28, 2020, President Trump signed an "Executive Order on Preventing Online Censorship" directed to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act (47 U.S.C. §230(c)). Section 230 has long afforded protections to interactive computer services against litigation over their hosting and moderation of online content. In hundreds of cases since the law was passed in 1996, courts have held that Section 230 immunizes online services from claims based upon their hosting of third-party content, and their editorial decisions to remove such content from their platforms. The Executive Order does not, and could not, undo those precedents, much less unilaterally rewrite Section 230. Instead, it directs various activities within the Executive Branch that will increase regulatory scrutiny of online services.
Client Highlights
5.28.20
D.C. Circuit Affirms District Court Ruling in Censorship Lawsuit
On May 27, 2020, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia issued a decision affirming the dismissal of a putative class action brought against Twitter, Google, Facebook, and Apple by the conservative organization Freedom Watch and journalist Laura Loomer. This was one of a number of recent cases targeting online services for alleged bias against conservative content. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati represented Twitter in the matter.
Client Highlights
2.27.20
Ninth Circuit Upholds Dismissal of Prager University v. Google, et al., Confirming YouTube is Not a State Actor
On February 26, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld the district court’s ruling in Prager University v. Google, et al., rejecting claims that YouTube improperly censors content. Wilson Sonsini represented YouTube in the matter.
Client Highlights
3.19.19
Wilson Sonsini Secures Win for Twitter in Case Alleging Bias
On March 14, 2019 the United States District Court for the District of Columbia issued an important decision, dismissing a putative class action brought against Twitter, Google, Facebook, and Apple by the conservative organization Freedom Watch and journalist Laura Loomer.