New Netflix Class Action Lawsuit

From the Netflix 2006 Annual Report:

On January 31, 2007, Dennis Dilbeck filed a putative class action lawsuit against the Company in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California captioned Dennis Dilbeck v. Netflix, Inc., Civil Case No. C 07 00643 PVT. The complaint alleges that the Company violated antitrust and unfair competition laws in seeking to enforce two of its patents against Blockbuster, Inc. and other potential competitors, which patents were allegedly obtained by deceiving the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The complaint alleges that the Company’s subscribers have paid artificially inflated subscription prices because potential competitors were allegedly deterred from entering the online DVD rental market by the Company’s patents. The complaint purports to be on behalf of existing and past subscribers who allegedly would have paid lower subscription rates but for the alleged anticompetitive conduct. The complaint seeks injunctive relief, restitution and damages in an unspecified amount.

Thanks to Ricklogic for sending this in.

Comments

[Aron]

What do you call 1,000 lawyers on the bottom of the ocean?

[corey3rd]

I'm averaging 6 DVD rentals a week for $18 a month. That's $0.67 per rental. I can't enter this class action lawsuit.

[FredFredrickson]

For $18 a month, I was lucky to get 3 a week. I'd watch and send out next day, and they wouldn't even "receive" them until next week. Then I'd get three more scattered, 2 friday, 1 on monday. Send them back. Repeat. Seriously though, a total slowdown from the free trial (where they actually try to impress you).

[corey3rd]

Where are you living, Fred? how far away from the DC? I've yet to get totally screwed like that.

[gir]

"What do you call 1,000 lawyers on the bottom of the ocean?"

1/10% of 1,000,000 lawyers at the bottom of the ocean.

Do you know how to save a drowning lawyer?

[Edward R Murrow]

That's it! I'm changing my major to pre-law. It's money for nuthin' and chicks for free.

[Scribe1964]

"What do you call 1,000 lawyers on the bottom of the ocean?"

A good start.

What's the difference between a lawyer and a catfish?

[FredFredrickson]

I'm living in NH, about a 45 minute drive to the nearest center. I honestly used to get 1 day send back, next day they receive and send out, next day i got it. But after a while they started slowing down to the point where I would send back and wonder if they'd even tell me they received it in the same week.

Blockbuster is a blessing because even though they don't report the return immediately, if you report it returned, they'll ship you the next discs days before they report receiving the old ones.

[alkamest]

I'm paying about 75 cents per rental on the 3-out plan $18/month. Overcharging? Not even close.

[corey3rd]

I've had recent problems with Blockbuster including waiting three days for them to ship me something - even though I have 100 titles in my queue. But when I complained via email, I got this:

Thanks for contacting BLOCKBUSTER Online Customer Care.

I apologize for the delay in the allocation of your movies, Joseph. Due to a temporary glitch, we are not able to ship a DVD to fill your open slot. I have forwarded your concern to our technical department for review. You should see your service resume back to normal very soon.

When I called the 800 number as followup, they rep emailed me over coupons good for free rentals at the store. This is the second time they've done this for me. At least they don't want me completely ticked off at them.

[type-cast]

"Do you know how to save a drowning lawyer?"

Take the cement shoes off of his feet. Don't understand the question. Why save them?