Your eligibility is proved by records linking you to video services and to the disclosed viewing data. Most settlements accept the mailed notice with Claim ID and PIN, plus account emails, receipts, watch history, or Facebook-account proof. The federal Video Privacy Protection Act protects renters, purchasers, and subscribers of a video provider.
Cornell Legal Information Institute publishes the statutory definition in 18 U.S.C. Section 2710(a)(1). That status decides which documents matter for your claim.
Official resources:
- Explore the official data from FTC — Use this primary source to review the underlying data.
- Read the official guidance from Cornell — Use this primary source to verify the official guidance.
Table of Contents
- Who counts as an eligible consumer?
- What viewing link must your proof show?
- Why do some claims need a notice ID and Facebook proof?
- When is a sworn statement enough?
- What should you save before you file?
Who counts as an eligible consumer?
You must show you rented, bought, or subscribed to video from the named provider. Cornell Legal Information Institute explains the same law bars knowing disclosure of information that ties a person to specific videos requested or obtained. A subscription receipt or account page often proves this first step.
The claim also needs a knowing disclosure of identifiable viewing-linked information. WilmerHale analysis describes this theory as now heavily applied to website pixels and trackers. The Federal Trade Commission proved viewing history matters when Vizio paid $2.2 million over data from 11 million smart TVs.
What viewing link must your proof show?
Administrators look for a match between your identity, your account, and a video request. Useful proof includes order confirmations, subscription invoices, rental histories, and profile pages showing your username. Watch history and email confirmations help when names changed.
Keep evidence that ties the account to you personally. That can mean the email used for signup, a billing statement, or a screenshot of account settings. The stronger the viewing link, the fewer follow-up questions you face.
Why do some claims need a notice ID and Facebook proof?
Many pixel cases limit the class to people who both used the video site and held a Facebook account. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California approved such a class in Stark v. Patreon for U.S.
persons who requested video on patreon.com from April 1, 2016 to Sept. 23, 2024 while holding both accounts, as described in the final approval order. That dual-account rule shapes the paperwork. OpenClassActions reports in its GameStop settlement guide that claimants needed the ID from their emailed notice plus a Facebook profile link or screenshot. Without both pieces, the portal could not confirm the Facebook-account element.
When is a sworn statement enough?
Some settlements do not require a notice code, PIN, or receipts. OpenClassActions reports in its Willow TV settlement guide that the $850,000 cricket-streaming settlement asked only for a claim form signed under penalty of perjury. Claimants attested to subscription and viewing.
That approach lowers the paper burden but raises the accuracy burden. A false statement carries perjury risk. File only for the account, dates, and viewing activity you actually had.
What should you save before you file?
Save the administrator notice with Claim ID, Login ID, and PIN first. Many online portals cannot file without that code.
OpenClassActions settlement guides from July 2026 stress keeping that notice with account emails and receipts. Store copies in one folder until payment issues. Replace a lost notice through the settlement administrator before the deadline passes.
- Keep the mailed or emailed notice and envelope
- Save account emails, receipts, and subscription renewals
- Export or screenshot watch and purchase history
- Screenshot your Facebook profile URL if the class requires it