ToplineThe Federal Trade Commission will soon implement a rule making it easier for consumers to cancel their subscriptions and memberships, according to an announcement Wednesday, effectively clamping down on companies who complicate the cancellation process and threatening them with civil penalties if they continue to do so.

The Federal Trade Commission announced a final rule that would require retailers to make canceling a subscription just as easy as it was to sign up for. The so-called “click-to-cancel” rule was announced on Wednesday and applies to subscription services and memberships.

The Commission voted 3-2 to approve publication of the final rule in the Federal Register, with Commissioners Melissa Holyoak and Andrew Ferguson voting no. Not surprisingly, industry leaders complained that it forces an undue burden on businesses, even though websites and apps can be updated with unsubscribe buttons fairly easily.