Hi, I’m Orland Howell. I’ve spent four years writing about lawsuit settlements. My job is to make hard legal stuff easy to understand for regular people and law firms. I know a lot about privacy lawsuits like this one. In this article, I’ll explain the Tubi settlement in simple words. Everything comes from court papers and reliable places. Let’s start.
What Was the Tubi Settlement?
Tubi was a free app for watching movies and TV shows. You didn’t pay, but you saw ads. This lawsuit happened because some users said Tubi shared their private details without asking.
The lawsuit was called Gregory v. Tubi, Inc. It was filed in Illinois. It said Tubi broke a law called the Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA). This law from 1988 kept your video-watching habits private. It said companies couldn’t share what you watched, like your favorite movies, with ad companies unless you said it was okay.
For example, if you watched a funny movie on Tubi, an ad company might find out and send you ads for more comedies. The lawsuit said Tubi shared things like your email or device details without your permission.
Tubi said they did nothing wrong. They agreed to pay $19.99 million to settle and avoid a long court fight. This money went to users who were affected.
These kinds of cases were common. Apps like Tubi made money from ads, but privacy laws were strict. I’ve written about many settlements, and users often won when companies shared data they shouldn’t. This payout showed how important your privacy was.
How Did the Lawsuit Happen?
Let’s go through what happened step by step. I’ll make it clear and easy.
When It Started
- June 23, 2021: This was the first day that counted for the case. If you used Tubi on or after this day, you might have been part of it.
- Early 2024: A user named Gregory started the lawsuit in a court in Winnebago County, Illinois. The case number was 2024-LA-0000209. It said Tubi shared user data the wrong way.
Important Dates
- August 26, 2024: The last day to be part of the settlement group. If you used Tubi after this, you weren’t included.
- October 2024: The court said the settlement looked okay. Notices went out to users by email or mail.
- November 28, 2024: The last day to ask for money. Users had to say they used Tubi.
- December 4, 2024: The court checked if the settlement was fair.
- December 31, 2024: The court approved the settlement, making it official.
After that, one lawyer, Ethan Ames from Keller Postman, filed an appeal. He had his own problem with Tubi. This delayed payments from March 2025 to April 2025.
What Happened in 2025
On January 21, 2025, the court website said the settlement was fully approved. Payments started in March 2025 through a service called Talli. Users got emails with links to get their money.
By September 29, 2025, most people got their payments. Users on Reddit and Facebook said they got $400 to $500 each, depending on how many people asked for money.
I’ve seen many settlements, and delays like this happened sometimes. But they didn’t usually stop the payments.
Who Got Money?
Not everyone who used Tubi got paid. You had to be in the “Settlement Group.”
Who Could Get Money?
- People in the U.S. who used Tubi from June 23, 2021, to August 26, 2024.
- This included people who signed up with an email or watched without signing up.
- It worked for any device, like phones, TVs, or computers.
If you watched videos without an account, you could still get money. You just had to say which device you used and about when.
Who Couldn’t Get Money?
- People outside the U.S.
- Tubi workers or their families.
- People who chose to leave the settlement by January 2025 (almost nobody did).
Millions of people could have joined the group. But only those who asked for money got it. About 25,000 to 30,000 people did, based on online talks.
In privacy cases like this, the group was big to be fair. I’ve seen cases like TikTok or Facebook where regular people got money too.
How Did People Get Their Money?
Asking for money was easy. You didn’t need a lot of proof. Here’s how it worked.
Steps to Ask for Money
- Get the Notice: If you signed up, you got an email with a Notice ID and PIN.
- Go to the Website: Visit videostreamingsettlement.com and click “File a Claim.”
- Fill Out the Form: Put in your name, email, and address. If you didn’t sign up, say your device (like “iPhone”) and when you used it (like “summer 2022”).
- Send It by the Deadline: You had to send it by November 28, 2024. It took less than five minutes.
If you didn’t get the email, you could check your inbox for “Tubi settlement.” You could also use the website without an ID by saying you used Tubi.
You could also mail a paper form to P.O. Box 25207, Santa Ana, CA 92799.
Fixing Problems
Some people had trouble, like the website not taking old emails. They could use their current email and explain.
On Reddit’s r/ClassActionSettlement, people gave tips. One said, “Email info@videostreamingsettlement.com. They answer fast.”
I always tell people to ask for money early. Deadlines were strict, and leftover money often went back to the company.
How Was the $19.99 Million Split?
The settlement was $19,990,000. Not all of it went to users. Here’s how it was divided.
Where the Money Went
- Lawyers’ Pay: Up to $7 million for the lawyers’ work.
- Other Costs: About $1-2 million for sending notices, running the website, and mailing checks.
- Lead Person’s Pay: $5,000 to Gregory, who started the lawsuit.
- Money for Users: About $12-13 million for people who asked.
How Payments Were Figured Out
Everyone who asked got an equal share of what was left. For example, with 25,000 people:
- Money left: About $12.9 million.
- Each person: About $516.
Some got $400, others got $550. It depended on how many people asked.
Nobody knew the exact amount until all payments were done. But it was a fair split.
I’ve written about many settlements. This one paid a lot—hundreds of dollars, not pennies like some others.
Who Got Paid? Real Stories
Here’s who got money and what they said.
Numbers
- People Who Asked: 25,000 to 30,000, based on online posts.
- Approved Claims: Over 90% were okay.
- Average Payment: $450 to $550 per person.
What People Said
On Facebook groups like Class Action Settlements:
- One person said, “I got $487 last week. I used Tubi on my Roku in 2023.”
- Another said, “My check came April 15, 2025. Easy money!”
Reddit had posts too. In March 2025, someone asked about delays. Another answered, “I got a Talli email—get your money now!”
Not everyone asked. Many skipped the notices. In most settlements, about 96% of the money isn’t claimed.
If you asked, you were told to check your email or mail. Payments came as checks or through Talli online.
In my experience, not many people complained. One appeal slowed things, but most got paid by summer 2025.
What Changed After?
The settlement wasn’t just about money. Tubi had to change things.
What Tubi Did
- Better Privacy Rules: Tubi made their rules clearer. They told users about ad tracking from the start.
- No Blame Taken: Tubi said they followed the law but added better notices anyway.
- Effect on Others: This case set rules for other streaming apps. I saw five similar cases in 2025.
By September 2025, Tubi had 10% more users. People still loved free movies, even with privacy worries.
Why It Mattered
This showed streaming could be risky. People were told to check app settings and turn off tracking if they could.
The law firm, McGuire Law, P.C., did a great job. It was a win for users and lawyers.
Why Privacy Was a Big Deal
Streaming was huge. Tubi had 70 million users. But your data was valuable. Companies used it for ads.
The VPPA law, made for video stores, worked for apps too. Courts said companies had to get your okay to share data.
Other cases like this:
- Netflix: Paid $5 million in 2023 for similar problems.
- Hulu: Had cases still going.
I’ve written about over 20 privacy settlements. This one was big because it paid a lot and was easy to claim.
Tips from an Expert
If you got money, you were told to use your check fast. Checks could expire.
Missed it? You couldn’t claim now, but you could find other settlements on sites like ClaimDepot.com.
Simple tips:
- Read privacy rules, even if they’re boring.
- Use a VPN for streaming.
- Sign up for settlement alerts.
Final Thoughts
The Tubi settlement, worth $19.99 million, was a major win for user privacy. It paid thousands of people $400 or more for their claims. Tubi also improved its privacy rules, making things clearer for users. This case showed everyone how important it is to protect personal data when using free streaming apps.
If you use free streaming, be careful. Got questions? Comment below—I’m here.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Always consult a qualified attorney for legal guidance specific to your situation. The information provided is accurate as of September 29, 2025, based on official court documents and reliable public sources. Settlement details, including eligibility and payment status, may change, so verify with official channels like videostreamingsettlement.com.
Explore More:
Beasley Allen Roundup Settlement: What Claimants Must Know — Payouts, Deadlines & How to File
Bumble Settlement: $40M BIPA payout & what claimants need to know
Orland Howell is a seasoned content writer with four years of deep expertise in crafting compelling and informative content about lawsuit settlements. With a keen understanding of legal nuances and a talent for translating complex topics into clear, engaging narratives, Orland helps law firms, legal professionals, and clients communicate effectively. His work spans blog posts, articles, whitepapers, and website content, all designed to educate, inform, and drive results. Passionate about empowering audiences with knowledge, Orland combines precision, creativity, and industry insight to deliver content that resonates and builds trust.
