# Subscription law dataset (JSON and CSV)

> Every US subscription auto-renewal requirement in Checkbox's catalog as open data: 204 current requirements with citations, effective dates, notice windows and enforcement, as JSON and CSV under CC BY 4.0. Versioned; pending attorney review.

An open, machine-readable dataset of US subscription and automatic-renewal requirements: **215 requirement records** (204 current, 11 superseded versions kept for history) from **36 laws**, covering 30 jurisdictions with cataloged requirements (federal, states, DC and New York City). It is the same catalog Checkbox's rules engine evaluates, published so that anyone can build on it.

| | |
|---|---|
| Version | `2026.11.01.1` (catalog), schema `1.0`, rules `1.4.0` |
| Last reviewed against primary sources | 2026-10-29 |
| License | [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) — use, share and adapt, with attribution |
| Review status | Draft: pending attorney review (every record carries `legal_review_status`) |
| Formats | [JSON](https://checkbox.site/laws/data.json) (laws + requirements), [CSV](https://checkbox.site/laws/data.csv) (one row per requirement) |
| Changes | [Changelog](https://checkbox.site/changelog) |

## Download {#download}

- JSON: `https://checkbox.site/laws/data.json`
- CSV: `https://checkbox.site/laws/data.csv`

Both are served with `Access-Control-Allow-Origin: *`, so a browser app can read them directly. They are regenerated from the catalog on every release; the `version` field changes whenever any legal content changes.

## How to cite {#cite}

```text title="Citation"
Checkbox. US Subscription Auto-Renewal Requirements Dataset, version 2026.11.01.1 (last reviewed 2026-10-29).
https://checkbox.site/laws/data. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
```

Attribution under CC BY 4.0: name Checkbox, link to this page, give the version, and say whether you changed the data.

## JSON structure {#json}

The JSON file has dataset metadata, then `jurisdictions[]` (each with its `laws[]` and enforcement summary) and `requirements[]`:

| Field | Meaning |
|---|---|
| `version`, `schema_version`, `last_reviewed`, `license`, `legal_review_status` | Dataset metadata |
| `jurisdictions[].key` | `US-FED`, `US-CA`, …, `US-NY-NYC` (New York City) |
| `jurisdictions[].url` | The law page on checkbox.site |
| `jurisdictions[].laws[]` | `statute`, `citation`, `source_url`, `effective_date`, `status` (`in_force`, `enacted_not_yet_effective`, `not_cataloged`), `confidence`, `verification`, `last_verified`, `summary`, `scope`, `amendments[]` |
| `jurisdictions[].enforcement` | `private_right_of_action` (`yes`, `via_general_consumer_law`, `ag_only`) and `remedies` |
| `jurisdictions[].research_note` | For jurisdictions without a cataloged law: what the research found |
| `requirements[].id` | Stable id, e.g. `US-CA.17602.a.1` |
| `requirements[].stage` | `signup`, `confirmation`, `reminder`, `cancellation` or `config` |
| `requirements[].title`, `summary` | The obligation in plain English |
| `requirements[].citation`, `source_url` | The provision it comes from |
| `requirements[].effective_date`, `sunset_date` | When it applies (a sunset date marks a superseded version) |
| `requirements[].applies_when` | Conditions (`has_free_trial`, `min_trial_days`, `max_trial_days`, `min_term_months`, `online_signup`, `consumer_only`, `payment_methods`); empty means always |
| `requirements[].notice_window` | `min_days_before`, `max_days_before`, `max_days_after`, `anchor` (`trial_end`, `renewal`, `price_change`, `charge`, `cancellation_deadline`, `signup`) and a `description` |
| `requirements[].severity` | How central the obligation is (`critical`, `high`, `medium`, `low`) |
| `requirements[].exposure` | `private_right_of_action`, `remedies`, `multiple_damages`, `statutory_damages`, `restitution`, `cure_period_days` |
| `requirements[].check_ids` | The Checkbox machine checks that test it ([list](https://checkbox.site/docs/concepts/checks)) |
| `requirements[].legal_review_status` | `draft` until an attorney signs off |

One record, as published:

```json title="requirements[] (one record)"
{
  "id": "US-CA.17602.b.1",
  "jurisdiction": "US-CA",
  "jurisdiction_name": "California",
  "law": "California Automatic Renewal Law",
  "stage": "reminder",
  "title": "Notice before a free trial or promotional price longer than 31 days ends",
  "summary": "If the consumer accepted a free gift or trial lasting more than 31 days (or a promotional price lasting more than 31 days), send a notice 3 to 21 days before the trial/promotional period expires stating: that the subscription will automatically renew unless cancelled; the length and other terms of the renewal period; the amount (or range) and frequency of the charges; one or more ways to cancel; a link (or other electronic method) to the cancellation process if sent electronically; and the business's contact information.",
  "citation": "Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17602(a)(8), (b)(1)",
  "source_url": "https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=BPC&sectionNum=17602.",
  "effective_date": "2022-07-01",
  "sunset_date": null,
  "applies_when": {
    "has_free_trial": true,
    "min_trial_days": 32
  },
  "notice_window": {
    "min_days_before": 3,
    "max_days_before": 21,
    "max_days_after": null,
    "anchor": "trial_end",
    "description": "3-21 days before the trial ends"
  },
  "severity": "high",
  "exposure": {
    "private_right_of_action": "via_general_consumer_law",
    "remedies": "No private right in the ARL itself (Mayron v. Google, 2020): plaintiffs sue under the UCL, FAL and CLRA and must show economic injury; CLRA requires a 30-day demand letter before damages. Goods or services provided without the required consent are an unconditional gift (§ 17603); all civil remedies are available (§ 17604, with a good-faith-compliance safe harbor). Public enforcement by the district attorneys' task force (CART): penalties plus restitution (HelloFresh $7.5M). Typical class settlements $0.6M-$7.5M.",
    "multiple_damages": false,
    "statutory_damages": false,
    "restitution": true,
    "cure_period_days": 30
  },
  "check_ids": [
    "reminder.trial_ending",
    "config.trial_reminder_enabled"
  ],
  "legal_review_status": "draft",
  "url": "https://checkbox.site/laws/california"
}
```

## CSV columns {#csv}

```text title="data.csv header"
id,jurisdiction,jurisdiction_name,law,stage,title,summary,citation,source_url,effective_date,sunset_date,has_free_trial,min_trial_days,max_trial_days,min_term_months,online_signup,consumer_only,payment_methods,notice_min_days_before,notice_max_days_before,notice_max_days_after,notice_anchor,notice_window,severity,private_right_of_action,remedies,cure_period_days,check_ids,legal_review_status,url,catalog_version
```

Lists (`check_ids`, `payment_methods`) are separated by `;`. Dates are ISO 8601 (`YYYY-MM-DD`).

## Method {#method}

- Each requirement is drafted from the statute or regulation text linked in `source_url` and verified against it (`verification` on each law says how: official text, enacted session law, or secondary sources).
- Each law records when it was last verified (`last_verified`). Laws that were researched but deliberately not turned into requirements are included with `status: "not_cataloged"` and a summary saying why.
- Enforcement and remedy summaries come from the cited statutes and from public enforcement records; figures that come from secondary sources say so.
- Nothing in the dataset has been reviewed by an attorney yet. It is research to build on and to take to counsel, not legal advice.

Found an error or a new law? Email support@checkbox.site with the source; corrections ship as a new version and appear in the [changelog](https://checkbox.site/changelog).

## Browse by jurisdiction {#browse}

[Federal](https://checkbox.site/laws/federal) · [Alabama](https://checkbox.site/laws/alabama) · [Alaska](https://checkbox.site/laws/alaska) · [Arizona](https://checkbox.site/laws/arizona) · [Arkansas](https://checkbox.site/laws/arkansas) · [California](https://checkbox.site/laws/california) · [Colorado](https://checkbox.site/laws/colorado) · [Connecticut](https://checkbox.site/laws/connecticut) · [Delaware](https://checkbox.site/laws/delaware) · [District of Columbia](https://checkbox.site/laws/district-of-columbia) · [Florida](https://checkbox.site/laws/florida) · [Georgia](https://checkbox.site/laws/georgia) · [Hawaii](https://checkbox.site/laws/hawaii) · [Idaho](https://checkbox.site/laws/idaho) · [Illinois](https://checkbox.site/laws/illinois) · [Indiana](https://checkbox.site/laws/indiana) · [Iowa](https://checkbox.site/laws/iowa) · [Kansas](https://checkbox.site/laws/kansas) · [Kentucky](https://checkbox.site/laws/kentucky) · [Louisiana](https://checkbox.site/laws/louisiana) · [Maine](https://checkbox.site/laws/maine) · [Maryland](https://checkbox.site/laws/maryland) · [Massachusetts](https://checkbox.site/laws/massachusetts) · [Michigan](https://checkbox.site/laws/michigan) · [Minnesota](https://checkbox.site/laws/minnesota) · [Mississippi](https://checkbox.site/laws/mississippi) · [Missouri](https://checkbox.site/laws/missouri) · [Montana](https://checkbox.site/laws/montana) · [Nebraska](https://checkbox.site/laws/nebraska) · [Nevada](https://checkbox.site/laws/nevada) · [New Hampshire](https://checkbox.site/laws/new-hampshire) · [New Jersey](https://checkbox.site/laws/new-jersey) · [New Mexico](https://checkbox.site/laws/new-mexico) · [New York](https://checkbox.site/laws/new-york) · [North Carolina](https://checkbox.site/laws/north-carolina) · [North Dakota](https://checkbox.site/laws/north-dakota) · [Ohio](https://checkbox.site/laws/ohio) · [Oklahoma](https://checkbox.site/laws/oklahoma) · [Oregon](https://checkbox.site/laws/oregon) · [Pennsylvania](https://checkbox.site/laws/pennsylvania) · [Rhode Island](https://checkbox.site/laws/rhode-island) · [South Carolina](https://checkbox.site/laws/south-carolina) · [South Dakota](https://checkbox.site/laws/south-dakota) · [Tennessee](https://checkbox.site/laws/tennessee) · [Texas](https://checkbox.site/laws/texas) · [Utah](https://checkbox.site/laws/utah) · [Vermont](https://checkbox.site/laws/vermont) · [Virginia](https://checkbox.site/laws/virginia) · [Washington](https://checkbox.site/laws/washington) · [West Virginia](https://checkbox.site/laws/west-virginia) · [Wisconsin](https://checkbox.site/laws/wisconsin) · [Wyoming](https://checkbox.site/laws/wyoming) · [New York City](https://checkbox.site/laws/new-york-city)

> **Not legal advice**
>
> Research data, not legal advice. Every record is drafted from the cited sources and pending attorney review.