Actress Sues Amazon For Revealing Age
Comments (1)
IMDb is being sued for allegedly releasing an actress's age.
Apparently, this actress didn’t get the memo that whatever you post on the Internet can be viewed by anyone … but maybe that’s because of her age.
An unnamed actress is suing the internet giant Amazon, owner of the Internet Movie Database, for revealing her age on the internet.
Yes, you read that right.
The $1 million lawsuit claims IMDb misused the actress’s information when she set up her IMDbPro page in 2008. The company allegedly published her legal birth year based off the credit card information the actress provided, and refused to take the information down when asked.
Though only referred to as “Jane Doe” in the lawsuit, Forbes reports the Texas-based actress is of Asian descent but performs under an Americanized stage name. No doubt page views would skyrocket if she was actually named.
The lawsuit is seeking $1 million in punitive damages and $75,000 in compensatory damages because of missed employment opportunities due to her published age, which revealed she was “many years older than she looks.”
"In the entertainment industry, youth is king," the lawsuit says. "If one is perceived to be 'over-the-hill,' i.e. approaching 40, it is nearly impossible for an up-and-coming actress, such as the plaintiff, to get work."
There may have been some missed jobs, but $1 million worth for an “up-and-coming actress”? It seems a little excessive.
The alleged misuse of information seems to be the biggest issue here, but it seems completely unbelievable that Amazon wouldn’t have covered themselves with some sort of “Terms and Conditions.”
If they didn’t, then there’s a legitimate claim here and Amazon could be in some deep trouble, but we all know the biggest lie of the web: “Yes, I have read and agree to the Terms and Conditions.”
And it’s like your Mom always said … be careful what you put on the Internet.
Reach writer Jennifer Schultz here, and follow her on Twitter here.
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Comments
Shocking that she's only seeking $1million. SCOTUS has already held that a person's identity is their own personal, private, most intimate property "worth more than any other thing that can ever be owned". Last I checked, Apple Inc, Exxon Inc, the Saudi Investment Fund were all worth a few zeros more than a million. Maybe it's a typo as it is more reasonably valued at a Trillion or more in U.S. law.
It's also still illegal in the U.S. (arising in English Common Law - maybe still applicable in numerous other English Common Law jurisdictions) just to ask a woman her age. Geez, it used to be that you couldn't graduate high school without taking a law class and learning the crimes it is to ask a woman her age (U.S.).
It just seems ridiculous that IMDb/Amazon would indulge in such flagrant criminal activities with such high civil liabilities. Just goes to show how entitled big businesses feels to take and misuse the private property of the average and little people.
Hopefully Jane Doe, or her lawyers, will correct that filing and go after the Trillion or more that it's worth. In fact, they should probably go after IMDb/Amazon under RICO which, with triple damages, means something potentially worth well over $3 Trillion to Ms. Doe. Still not really enough for the commission of such vile acts against her, though.