A US appeals court has blocked a rule requiring businesses to make it as easy for consumers to cancel subscriptions and memberships as it is to sign up. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) had proposed the so-called “click-to-cancel” rule, which aimed to address common issues with subscription plans such as misrepresentation, difficult cancellations, and unbilled charges.
The rule was set to take effect next week but was blocked after business groups, including the US Chamber of Commerce, sued to stop its implementation. The Chamber claimed the rule was a “power grab” by the FTC to “micromanage business decisions.”
In 2021, under President Trump’s administration, the FTC delayed the implementation of the rule. Advocacy group American Economic Liberties Project blames this delay for the court’s decision, stating that it allowed corporate lobbyists to win in court and ultimately led to the blocking of the rule.
The proposed “click-to-cancel” rule was seen as a key consumer protection measure, aiming to protect people from unwanted or unaffordable subscriptions. However, its fate remains uncertain, with the FTC declining to comment on the decision or its next steps.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/09/business