Claims Process

The deadline to file claims expired on November 14, 2022. The Claims Administrator (RicePoint Administration Inc.) is reviewing all submitted claims. If necessary, the Claims Administrator may contact claimants for additional information.

Please check www.oddclassaction.com for regular updates.

Settlements

Settlements have been reached with the following defendants totaling over $28.9 million:

• TEAC Corporation, TEAC America, Inc. and TEAC Canada, Ltd. (“TEAC”) (USD$500,000);
• NEC Corporation and NEC Canada, Inc. (“NEC”) (CDN$730,000);
• Hitachi-LG Data Storage, Inc. and Hitachi-LG Data Storage Korea, Inc. (“HLDS”) (CDN$8,123,940). This settlement also releases the defendants, Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Canada, Ltd., Hitachi America Ltd., LG Electronics Inc., LG Electronics Canada, Inc., and LG Electronics USA, Inc.;
• Sony Corporation, Sony Optiarc, Inc., Sony Optiarc America Inc., Sony of Canada Ltd., Sony Electronics, Inc., Sony Corporation of America and Sony NEC Optiarc, Inc. (“Sony”) (CDN$4,400,000);
• Philips & Lite-On Digital Solutions Corporation and Philips & Lite-On Digital Solutions USA, Inc. (“PLDS”) (CDN$5,695,000). This settlement also releases the defendants, Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.), Lite-On IT Corporation of Taiwan, Lite-On IT Corporation, Philips Canada Ltd., Philips Electronics North America Corporation and Philips Electronics Ltd.;
• Toshiba Corporation, Toshiba Samsung Storage Technology Corporation, Toshiba Samsung Storage Technology Korea Corporation, Toshiba America Consumer Products LLC, Toshiba of Canada Limited, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Samsung Electronics Canada Inc., and Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (“TSST”) (CDN$5,695,000);
• Panasonic Corporation, Panasonic Corporation of North America and Panasonic Canada, Inc. (“Panasonic”) (USD$1,650,000);
• Quanta Storage, Inc. and Quanta Storage America, Inc. (“Quanta”)(USD$500,000);
• Pioneer Corporation, Pioneer North America, Inc., Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc., Pioneer High Fidelity Taiwan Co., Ltd. and Pioneer Electronics of Canada Inc. (“Pioneer”)(CDN$1,185,000); and
• BenQ Corporation, BenQ America Corporation and BenQ Canada Corp. (“BenQ”)(CDN$424,000).

The settlements were approved by the requisite courts. The court also approved a process for distributing settlement funds to eligible settlement class members.

Contested Litigation

The class action has been resolved in its entirety.

What is a class action?

A class action is a lawsuit that is brought by one or more persons on behalf of a larger group of people whose claims share common legal and/or factual issues. Class actions provide a cost-effective way for groups of people with common interests to pursue a legal claim.

What does “certification” mean?

Certification is the motion where the court determines whether the action can properly be pursued as a class action. The court will consider factors such as whether the claims of the class members raise common legal and/or factual issues and whether a class action is the preferable method of pursuing the claims (as opposed to other methods, such as individual actions).

Do I have to pay anything to participate in the class action?

Class action lawyers are usually paid on a contingency basis. This means that class counsel are only paid if successful. Class counsel are paid a percentage of any settlement or court award. Class counsel fees are subject to court approval.

Who is affected by the Optical Disc Drives class action?

You are affected by the class action and are a “member” of the class if you are a person in Canada who between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2010 purchased Optical Disc Drives and/or products containing Optical Disc Drives. Optical Disc Drives are used in consumer products such as desktop computers, mobile/laptop computers, video game consoles, CD players/recorders, DVD players/recorders and Blu-Ray disc players/recorders.

Can I join the class action?

There are no steps required to “join” the class action. Assuming you fall within the scope of the class definition, you are automatically included in the class action unless you “opt-out” (exclude yourself from the class action). The deadline for opting-out has passed.

What should I do to protect my rights?

To protect your rights, you should:

1. Keep records of any purchases between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2010 of Optical Disc drives and/or products containing Optical Disc Drives (such as desktop computers, mobile/laptop computers, video game consoles, CD players/recorders, DVD players/recorders and Blu-Ray disc players/recorders).
2. Register to receive updates on this case by filling out the form below.

I still have a question. Who should I contact?

If you have any other questions, please complete the contact form below.

Settlements

• Notice of Claims Process (English) (French)
• Amended Distribution Protocol
• TEAC Settlement Agreement
• NEC Settlement Agreement
• HLDS Settlement Agreement
• Sony Settlement Agreement
• PLDS Settlement Agreement
• TSST Settlement Agreement
• Panasonic Settlement Agreement
• Quanta Settlement Agreement
• Pioneer Settlement Agreement
• BenQ Settlement Agreement

Contested Litigation

• Notice of Certification (English) (French)