Amazon hit with $1M lawsuit for exposing actress’s age on IMDb
The Amazon logo is seen on a podium during a press conference in New York, September 28, 2011.
SEATTLE – An unnamed actress is suing Amazon.com for more than $1 million for showing her age on the company’s Internet Movie Database site, the AP reports.
The company was slapped with the lawsuit Thursday in Seattle federal court by the actress, who remained anonymous in the filing out of fear of retaliation from the Internet company.
She claims IMDb unlawfully retrieved her personal information without her knowledge and refused to take down her legal date of birth from public view despite her request.
Although her exact age is not mentioned in the AP story, the filed court document describes her as approaching 40 years old:
"If one is perceived to be `over-the-hill,' i.e., approaching 40, it is nearly impossible for an up-and-coming actress, such as the plaintiff, to get work as she is thought to have less of an `upside,' therefore, casting directors, producers, directors, agents-manager, etc. do not give her the same opportunities, regardless of her appearance or talent."
The court document shows she currently lives in Texas and comes from Asian descent. She adopted an "Americanized" stage name that would be conducive to obtaining employment in the United States.
She is seeking more than $75,000 in compensatory damages and $1 million in punitive damages.
The story you just read is accessible and free to all because thousands of listeners and readers contribute to our nonprofit newsroom. We go deep to bring you the human-centered international reporting that you know you can trust. To do this work and to do it well, we rely on the support of our listeners. If you appreciated our coverage this year, if there was a story that made you pause or a song that moved you, would you consider making a gift to sustain our work through 2024 and beyond?