Optical disc drive price-fixing $29.7M class action settlement

Several optical disc drive manufacturers and distributors have agreed to pay a $29.7 million settlement over allegations they conspired to fix the prices for the optical disc drives (ODDs).

Consumers who purchased ODDs or ODD products in Canada between Jan. 1, 2004, and Jan. 1, 2010, may be entitled to compensation from the ODD settlement.

Optical disc drives are devices that read and/or write to CD-ROM, CD-R/RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-R/RW, Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray R/RW and HD DVD. Products that contain ODDs include computers and video game consoles; other ODDs are designed to be attached to devices externally.

ODD manufacturers and distributors faced numerous price-fixing class action lawsuits that were filed in British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec on behalf of Canadian residents.

The ODD class action lawsuits alleged the defendants engaged in a price-fixing plan that resulted in businesses and consumers paying artificially inflated prices for ODDs and ODD products.

The settling defendants are TEAC, NEC, Hitachi, Sony, Philips, Toshiba, Panasonic, Quanta, Pioneer and BenQ. The ODD class action settlements have reportedly been approved and the settlement funds are being held in trust awaiting distribution to eligible class members.

Class members who do not have documentation of their ODD purchases may be eligible to claim $20. Class members with proof of purchase may be eligible to claim more than $20, depending on the number and type of ODDs and ODD products they purchased, and how they are classified in the distribution chain.

The settlement notice indicates ODDs will be valued at their full purchase price while ODD products will be valued at fixed amounts. 

Computers, gaming systems, and external DVD and CD drives will be valued at $25. External Blu-Ray drives and the Sony PlayStation 3 will be valued at $70.

The deadline to file a claim for the optical disc drive settlement is Nov. 14, 2022.

Who’s Eligible

Consumers who purchased ODDs or ODD products in Canada between Jan. 1, 2004, and Jan. 1, 2010, may be entitled to compensation from the ODD settlement.

Potential Award

Varies. Class members who do not have documentation of their ODD purchases may be eligible to claim $20. Class members with proof of purchase may be eligible to claim more than $20, depending on the number and type of ODDs and ODD products they purchased, and how they are classified in the distribution chain.

Proof of Purchase

If a class member submits a claim for purchases not substantiated by the defendants’ data, they must provide proof of purchase such as an invoice, receipt, packing or delivery slips, purchase records, historical accounting records or a declaration attesting to the units purchased, as well as other substantiating documentation.

Claim Form

NOTE: If you do not qualify for this settlement do NOT file a claim.

Remember: you are submitting your claim under penalty of perjury. You are also harming other eligible Class Members by submitting a fraudulent claim. If you’re unsure if you qualify, please read the FAQ section of the Settlement Administrator’s website to ensure you meet all standards (Top Class Actions is not a Settlement Administrator). If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other open class action settlements you may be eligible for.

Claim Form Deadline

11/14/2022

Case Name

Fogelman v. Pioneer North America Inc., et al., Case No. 500-06-000504-106, in the Superior Court of Québec, Montreal Division

Final Hearing

N/A

Settlement Website

ODDClassAction.com

Claims Administrator

Canadian Optical Disc Drives Class Action
c/o RicePoint Administration Inc.
P.O. 3355
London, ON N6A 4K3
oddclassaction@ricepoint.com
800-296-7759

Class Counsel

Sharon Wong
CAMP FIORANTE MATTHEWS MOGERMAN LLP

Charles Wright
SISKINDS LLP

Jeff Orenstein
CONSUMER LAW GROUP INC

Defense Counsel

BLAKE, CASSELS & GRAYDON LLP

MCMILLAN S.E.N.C.R.L.DAVIS LLP

OSLER, HOSKIN & HARCOURT LLP

FASKEN MARTINEAU DUMOULIN LLP

DAVIES WARD PHILLIPS & VINEBERG LLP

STIKEMAN ELLIOTT

MCCARTHY TÉTRAULT

HEENAN BLAIKIE LLP