Amazon sued over Prime Video movie purchases
Amazon sued over Prime Video movie purchases
A class-action lawsuit was filed Friday against Amazon for saying that viewers who purchase a movie on its digital platform are ‘buying’ that film.
One of the most consumer-unfriendly practices in the world of at-home media is about to be exposed to the harsh light of day. I refer, of course, to Amazon’s digital movie rental and purchase platform on Prime Video. Customers who buy a movie on Prime Video may or may not know that when they make their purchase, they don’t actually own the movie in question, as they would if they’d bought a physical copy. A group of consumers is upset enough at Amazon advertising the ability to “buy” movies that the purchaser doesn’t technically own, and has now filed a lawsuit to stop the practice.
Key Details:
- You don’t own me: The lawsuit is aimed at forcing Amazon to stop telling customers they are buying movies they won’t ultimately own.
- License to stream: Viewers who buy movies digitally are actually purchasing the right to stream that movie as long as Amazon holds license to sell it.
- Precedent-setter?: A recent California law stipulated that no transactions can be labeled a purchase unless the item in question is actually owned by the buyer.
The class-action lawsuit against Amazon was first filed on Friday in the Washington federal court. It accuses the company of using dishonest tactics when advertising that viewers can “buy” movies, which they never actually own once the transaction is complete.
Platforms like Prime Video hold the license to distribute movies and TV shows from studios on a transactional basis. In essence, they’re licensing audiences the ability to stream their chosen titles for as long as Amazon itself has permission from studios to “sell” those titles. If the studios revoke that permission, movies or episodes can be pulled out of a viewer’s library, no matter how much they paid to watch.
That Byzantine process has led many viewers back to DVDs and other physical media, which are becoming somewhat popular once again. Amazon is already facing a similar lawsuit over this practice; in 202, a lawsuit alleging false advertising was leveled against Amazon, which said that consumers know when it says they’re “buying” a movie, they’re really only licensing it. Amazon tried to have the lawsuit dismissed to know avail, and the case is ongoing.
A recent California law change could also help the plaintiffs. Earlier this year, that law banned the advertisement of a business transaction as a “purchase” unless the buyer gets unrestricted ownership of the product in question. Sellers have to obtain explicit acknowledgement from consumers when offering them a limited license to use a product, instead of actual ownership.
What are your thoughts on the lawsuit? Are you tired of buying TV episodes or movies on Prime Video that you don’t actually own? Tell us your feelings in the comments below.
Prime Video
Prime Video is a subscription video streaming service that includes on-demand access to 10,000+ movies, TV shows, and Prime Originals like “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,” “Jack Ryan,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “The Boys,” and more. Subscribers can also add third-party services like Max, Showtime, STARZ, and dozens more with Prime Video Channels. Prime Video also offers exclusive live access to NFL Thursday Night Football.