DVD drive manufacturers settle class-action lawsuit over price-fixing (you might be owed US$10)

Once unthinkable to purchase a laptop without, DVD drives are nowadays quite rare. (Source: Digital Trends)

If you purchased a computer with a DVD drive or even just a stand-alone DVD play between 2003 and 2008, you may be eligible for part of a multi-million dollar settlement for price-fixing. Claimants are eligible for US$10 per device purchased during the period if they meet other eligibility requirements.

Douglas Black, Published 02/08/2017

Fail Business

Optical drive manufacturers Sony, NEC, Panasonic, and Hitachi-LG have just settled a seven-year-old class-action lawsuit against them for US$124.5 million. The suit regarded conspiracy to increase the price of optical drive components sold to computer manufacturers. According to the suit, the manufacturers coordinated their prices together before bidding for supply contracts, keeping prices higher.

If you bought a computer with DVD drive, or even a stand-alone drive between April 1, 2003 and December 31, 2008, then you may be eligible for some of the settlement. Claimants are to be paid US$10 per each device containing a DVD-drive purchased by them between this time period. However, there are a few restrictions. Stand-alone Panasonic DVD drives are eligible, but Panasonic computers are not. Additionally, only residents of one of the following states can claim the settlement: Arizona, California, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, or Wisconsin.

The claim can be submitted here before July 1, 2017.