Class Action Alleges Meredith Corp. Disclosed California Magazine Readers’ Identities Without Consent

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A proposed class action alleges the publisher of Sports Illustrated, Better Homes and Gardens and People, among other widely read magazines, has unlawfully rented, exchanged or otherwise disclosed California consumers’ identities without consent to do so. 

The eight-page lawsuit alleges defendant Meredith Corporation, by renting, exchanging or disclosing, rather than outright selling, California magazine subscribers’ identities, is able to misappropriate and profit from the information time and time again. The suit argues Meredith’s apparent disclosure of California subscriber data—including full names, titles of magazine subscriptions, home addresses and myriad other demographic details—is not only unlawful but also dangerous because it “provides malevolent actors with the tools needed to target particular members of society.” 

According to the suit, the entities to whom Meredith discloses Sports Illustrated and other magazine readers’ identities include data miners, data aggregators, data appenders, cooperatives, list rental/exchange recipients and/or list brokers. 

“By selling products to its Data Brokerage Clients comprised entirely of its magazine subscribers’ identities . . . without their consent—Defendant has violated, and continues to violate the California Right of Publicity Statute,” the lawsuit alleges. 

Per the suit, Meredith earns revenue from selling magazine subscriptions to consumers and selling the identities of those consumers to various third parties. The California Right of Publicity Statute bans the knowing use of a person’s name or likeness, in any manner, on or in products, merchandise, or goods without the individual’s prior consent, the lawsuit relays. 

According to the complaint, selling subscribers’ names and information “clearly constitutes using a person’s name or likeness ‘on or in products, merchandise, or goods’” as defined by the state law. 

Regardless of how a California consumer subscribes to a Meredith publication, including Family Circle, Southern Living and Shape, the company does not require the individual to read or agree to any terms of service or privacy policy, “let alone one that would allow it to misappropriate their property rights with impunity,” the lawsuit says. 

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