In a recent development to the ongoing Crunchyroll privacy issues, the Crunchyroll class action lawsuit has propelled the organization to settle down with paying the users of its platform. The popular streaming service has agreed in a class action lawsuit filed against them.
This class action lawsuit, which took place in a United States District Court in Illinois, asserted that Crunchyroll had disclosed subscribers’ personal information to third parties without obtaining proper consent.
Crunchyroll Class Action Lawsuit Explained
Although Crunchyroll initially refuted these allegations, they ultimately opted for a settlement. This decision was motivated by a desire to avoid the potential expenses and uncertainties that often accompany protracted legal battles.
As a result, subscribers who availed of Crunchyroll’s services between September 8, 2020, and September 20, 2023, may be eligible for compensation.
Founded by a group of graduates from the University of California, Berkeley, in 2006, Crunchyroll has grown into a global platform with over 100 million registered users.
The service is renowned for its extensive collection of East Asian media content, including Japanese anime. Headquartered in San Francisco, California, Crunchyroll also maintains a branch in Shibuya, Tokyo.
Crunchyroll Class Action Lawsuit and Sony’s Involvement
Crunchyroll’s ownership falls under the purview of the Sony Group Corporation. Previously a subsidiary of AT&T’s Otter Media, Crunchyroll entered into a partnership with Funimation from 2016 to 2018. T
his collaboration culminated in a merger under the Crunchyroll brand in 2022, following Sony’s acquisition of the platform in 2021.
The settlement document specifies, “A Settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit against Crunchyroll, LLC… The class action lawsuit accuses Crunchyroll of disclosing its subscribers’ personally identifiable information… Defendant denies that it violated any law but has agreed to the Settlement to avoid the uncertainties and expenses associated with continuing the case.”
To be eligible for inclusion in the settlement, individuals must meet two criteria. They must have been registered users of any online website, mobile app, or video-on-demand service operated by Crunchyroll between September 8, 2020, and September 20, 2023. Additionally, they must have viewed videos on these platforms during the specified period.
The settlement process has established important deadlines. Initial submissions are due by November 27th, while eligible claimants must ensure their claims are submitted no later than December 12.
Detailed information on the case against Sony Pictures Entertainments and Crunchyroll can be found in the settlement details here.
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