Core Viewpoint - The court ruled against the technology company operating the cloud storage app for using misleading practices regarding automatic subscription renewals, emphasizing the lack of clear notification to the user [1] Group 1: Legal Findings - The court found that the company used a very inconspicuous gray small font for the automatic renewal notification, which reduced the likelihood of user awareness [1] - The company was deemed to have engaged in prohibited bundling practices by defaulting consumers into agreeing to automatic renewals, thus stripping them of their autonomy in decision-making [1] - The court ordered the company to refund the total amount of 239.2 yuan that was deducted from the user due to the automatic renewal [1] Group 2: User Experience - The user, 唐某, initially paid 0.3 yuan for a 24-hour trial membership and was later charged 29.9 yuan monthly without explicit consent [1] - The user only discovered the automatic deductions after seven months and sought a refund, which was initially denied by customer service [1] - The company claimed that a notification was sent five days prior to the renewal via in-app messaging, which the court found insufficient [1]

Core Viewpoint - The court ruled that online operators must obtain explicit consent from consumers before providing automatic renewal services, and cannot use hidden methods to present automatic renewal as a default option [1][6]. Group 1: Case Background - A consumer, Tang, was charged 29.9 yuan for automatic renewal without prior notification after initially paying 0.3 yuan for a 24-hour trial membership [2]. - Tang discovered the automatic charges only after seven months and sought a refund, claiming the company had hidden the automatic renewal terms [2][3]. - The company used small gray font to indicate automatic renewal, which was deemed insufficient for consumer awareness [3]. Group 2: Court Ruling - The court found that the company violated Tang's right to know and his right to choose by not providing clear and prominent notifications about the automatic renewal [3][4]. - The ruling mandated the company to refund the total amount of 239.2 yuan to Tang [4]. Group 3: Legal Implications - The new Consumer Rights Protection Law, effective July 1, 2024, requires operators to prominently inform consumers about automatic renewals before service acceptance and prior to renewal dates [5]. - The court emphasized that "significant notice" must be clear enough to attract consumer attention, and the current notification method used by the company was inadequate [6]. Group 4: Recommendations and Industry Impact - The court issued judicial suggestions to the involved platform, recommending explicit consent for automatic renewals and strict adherence to notification obligations [7]. - Experts noted that subscription models must prioritize consumer rights to ensure transparency and fairness, which can enhance long-term business success and consumer trust [8].