By Crunchyroll is the streaming service you need, if you are an anime fan. Unfortunately, the app is among the worst out there and is in urgent need of an overhaul. The streaming service Crunchyroll is regarded as the Netflix of Japanese animation-related content. This blogpost gives you the information about Crunchyroll, Crunchyroll lawsuit and video privacy protection act.
About Crunchyroll
One of the main sources of affordable and legal anime in the US is Crunchyroll, which is owned by Sony after being acquired by AT&T and WarnerMedia. With an extensive collection that includes what seems like every important anime of the past 20 years, it frequently emerges from series at the exact same time they air in Japan. It also carries both dubbed and subtitled versions of those shows.
On the other hand, Crunchyroll is a service that works best when accessed through a web browser on your phone or AirPlay or Chromecast TV. This painful alternative is almost completely unusable due to crashes and bugs, and it can be found on Apple TV, PS4, Roku and PS5.
According to Crunchyroll, it has over 10 million subscribers. Sony Pictures Entertainment and Aniplex, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., are the owners of Crunchyroll. In 2021, Sony paid $1.18 billion in cash to AT&T to purchase Crunchyroll. A year later, Crunchyroll and Funimation, an anime streaming service were combined which Sony had purchased in 2019.
Instead, the company which is owned by Sony announced that it will be collaborating with GSN to introduce anime streaming channels for FAST TV services. These services consist of WatchFree Plus on Vizio, Roku Channel, LG Channels, and Amazon Freevee. PSYCHO-PASS and CLAMP’s Code Geass are among the shows available for streaming at launch. As stated by Crunchyroll President Rahul Purini in a remark to Deadline, the episodes will first air dubbed because the channel wants to introduce more people to the world of anime.
Crunchyroll Lawsuit
The Crunchyroll lawsuit was filed in September 2022 and alleged that without the user’s consent, Sony and Crunchyroll had disclosed personally identifiable information about their subscribers to Facebook and other third parties, in violation of the U.S. Video Privacy Protection Act.
Throughout the process, Sony/Crunchyroll has denied the accusations and argued that it has not broken any laws. Although the court has not taken a side, the streaming service agreed to a settlement payment. As a result, almost $16 million has been put aside for payments, with the expectation that each recipient will get about $30, provided they fulfill the criteria.
Crunchyroll Lawsuit Settlement Claims
The compensation may be available to any US resident who uses Crunchyroll services between September 8, 2020 and September 20, 2023. Online claim forms are available, and in order to be paid, they must be submitted by December 12th. Alternatively, you can object by November 27 and show up for the hearing on December 19 if you disagree with the settlement. You will not be entitled to any settlement amount if you take no action.
The deadline for submitting a claim form is December 12, however there is currently no specific information available regarding when those eligible users may get paid. All qualified users can locate the claim form on the official website of Kroll Settlement Administration, and eligible users should receive an email with details about the potential payout.
However, before you can file a claim, you have to confirm that you meet the following two conditions:
- You were an authorized user of any video-on-demand service or app that Crunchyroll owned, controlled, or operated as any mobile app, website, or online platform.
- During the Class Period, you watched videos on any mobile app, website, or video-on-demand service that Crunchyroll owns, controls, or runs.
Peiffer Wolf filed a Crunchyroll lawsuit alleging that Crunchyroll violated the VPPA by disclosing personally identifiable information about its subscribers to outside parties without their consent.
The Video Privacy Protection Act – Crunchyroll Lawsuit
A federal law in the United States named VPPA was enacted in 1988 with the intention of safeguarding people’s privacy when it involves renting and watching videos.
The following are the key provisions of the law:
- Consent Requirement: Before disclosing a user’s rental history or other information about their video use, video rental stores and digital streaming services must get their consent.
- Liability: Violations of the VPPA may result in legal liability. People who experience harm due to an unlawful disclosure of their video rental history have the legal right to file a lawsuit for damages, and in some situations, punitive damages are permitted.
- Time Limit on Consent: Consent granted under the VPPA is only valid for two years, or until the consumer revokes it.
- Government Agencies: In accordance with the law, access to video rental records by government entities is restricted and requires a court order.
- Definition of Consumer: According to the VPPA, a “consumer” is anyone who rents, buys, or subscribes to video content. This includes both digital streaming services and physical videotapes and DVDs.
The Video Privacy Act (VPPA) was modified in 2012 to provide enhanced privacy protections for consumers who opt not to disclose their watching information on social media sites, while additionally facilitating user consent-based sharing of the data involved.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this blog will provide you with comprehensive information regarding Crunchyroll, Crunchyroll lawsuit, its settlement claims, and VPPA. It is especially beneficial to anime fans who eagerly want to know about this lawsuit.