Peiffer Wolf’s Partner Brandon Wise secured a $16M VPPA (Video Privacy Protection Act) Settlement for Crunchyroll users.
Crunchyroll, owned by Sony, allegedly shared personal information with third parties, including Meta. However, under VPPA, established in 1988, online video providers need consent from consumers before sharing their personal information.
The Video Privacy Protection Act | Crunchyroll Lawsuit
A class action lawsuit brought by Peiffer Wolf alleged that Crunchyroll disclosed its subscribers’ personally identifiable information to third parties without consent in violation of the VPPA.
In the lawsuit, it was outlined that Crunchyroll allegedly shared its users’ data with companies like Facebook (Meta), Google, and Adobe.
The class action lawsuit brought by our Partner Brandon Wise resulted in a settlement of $16M for Crunchyroll subscribers.
Crunchyroll Lawsuit Settlement Claims
If you’re eligible to receive part of the settlement as a Settlement Class Member, you should receive an email with a Claimant ID number which you will use to file a claim.
More information is available on the settlement website – available here.
Claims must be submitted by December 12, 2023.
The Video Privacy Protection Act
VPPA is a United States federal law enacted in 1988 that was designed to protect the privacy of individuals’ video rental and viewing habits.
The key provisions of the law include:
1. Consent Requirement: Video rental stores and digital streaming platforms must obtain permission from users before sharing their rental history or other video consumption data.
2. Time Limit on Consent: Consent obtained under the VPPA is valid for no more than two years or until the consumer revokes it, whichever comes first.
3. Liability: VPPA establishes potential civil liability for violations. Individuals who suffer harm as a result of an unauthorized disclosure of their video rental history can sue for damages, and the law allows for punitive damages in some cases.
4. Government Agencies: The law also restricts government access to video rental records, requiring a court order for access.
5. Definition of Consumer: VPPA broadly defines a “consumer” as any renter, purchaser, or subscriber of video materials, which includes not only physical videotapes and DVDs but also digital streaming services.
In 2012, VPPA was amended to make it easier for users to share their viewing information on social media platforms with their consent, while still maintaining strict privacy protections for those who choose not to do so.