ZoomInfo is a contact database that allows customers to search an employee of a business and find out information about them, like their email address or phone number. The platform has contact data for employees at over 100 million companies.
VERIFY reader Zane reached out to ask if it's true that there's a ZoomInfo settlement.
THE QUESTION
Is there a ZoomInfo settlement?
THE SOURCES
THE ANSWER
Yes, there is a ZoomInfo settlement.
WHAT WE FOUND
There is a $29.55 million settlement in four states over claims that ZoomInfo violated right of publicity laws. Residents of California, Illinois, Indiana and Nevada may be eligible. Those eligible will receive a notice via email or by mail.
Plaintiffs filed lawsuits claiming ZoomInfo violated state laws that prohibit the use of “a person’s name or other identifying information to advertise, promote, or in connection with an offer for sale any of its products or services without prior written consent,” according to United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois documents.
The company allegedly violated the regulations by displaying identifying information on preview pages before offering a searcher a free trial for access to the full directory.
ZoomInfo has agreed to a settlement to address the case. The company has also agreed to not use the identities of the settlement class in any future advertising.
The settlement class includes residents of California, Illinois, Indiana and Nevada whose information was displayed to searchers on ZoomInfo during a specified time period. Details regarding eligibility timeframes and payout amount vary by state due to different state right of publicity laws.
If you live in one of the four eligible states, here’s what you need to know.
California
California’s total settlement fund amount is $14,228,617.50. To be eligible for the settlement, California residents must have had their name displayed in a ZoomInfo preview page viewed for the first time between Jan. 9 2020 and March 27, 2024. The current estimated payout per person is between $108.43 and $216.86.
Illinois
Illinois’ total settlement fund amount is $11,695,860. To be eligible, Illinois residents must have had their name displayed in a ZoomInfo preview page viewed for the first time between April 15, 2020 and March 27, 2024. The current estimated payout per eligible claimant is between $145.93 and $291.85.
Indiana
Indiana’s total settlement fund amount is $2,302,080. To be eligible for the settlement, Indiana residents must have had their name displayed in a ZoomInfo preview page viewed for the first time between March 27, 2022 and March 27, 2024. The estimated payout per person is currently between $740.77 and $1,481.54.
Nevada
Nevada’s total settlement fund amount is $1,331,055. To be eligible, Nevada residents must have had their name displayed in a ZoomInfo preview page viewed for the first time between March 27, 2022 and March 27, 2024. The current estimated payout per person is between $971.24 and $1,942.47.
Those eligible will receive a notice and can file a claim by mail or on the official settlement website.
If a notice was not received and you believe you may be part of the settlement class, you can contact the official settlement administrator via email at info@zoominforightofpublicitysettlement.com or by phone at (866) 602-7871 for more information.
The deadline to file a claim is November 4.
Payments will be processed by check or electronically approximately 28 days after the final approval hearing, which is currently scheduled for November 21.
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