Understanding the FTC’s Click-to-Cancel Rule: Its Rise, Fall, and Continuing Impact on Subscription Compliance and Consumer Protection
This course provides legal professionals, compliance officers, and business stakeholders with an in-depth analysis of the FTC’s Click-to-Cancel Rule—why it was introduced, the consumer and regulatory concerns it aimed to address, and why it was ultimately vacated by the Eighth Circuit. Despite its vacatur, the course explores how core principles from the rule continue to influence federal enforcement actions, state-level legislation, and best practices in subscription-based business models.
Using real-world case studies such as Cleo AI and Uber One, this course offers practical strategies for implementing compliant negative option programs and navigating the evolving legal landscape.
Melissa Beede Johannes is a seasoned attorney and university lecturer with extensive experience in intellectual property law. She prides herself on making complex legal concepts accessible and engaging for professionals across industries. As Counsel at Wolf Greenfield, Melissa advises clients on a range of IP matters, including patent portfolio development, licensing, enforcement, and defense. In addition to her legal practice, she serves as a Lecturer in Legal Studies at Brandeis University, where she teaches business and intellectual property law with a particular focus on cyberlaw, artificial intelligence, and innovation. Melissa earned her B.S. in Electrical Engineering, summa cum laude, from Tufts University, and her J.D., magna cum laude, from Suffolk University Law School. She is admitted to practice in Massachusetts and before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Melissa has been repeatedly recognized by Super Lawyers as one of the “Top Women Lawyers in Massachusetts.” In her free time, she enjoys trivia nights with her family, volunteering at a local cat shelter, and exploring new destinations through travel.
