Amazon hit with $1M lawsuit for exposing actress’s age on IMDb

GlobalPost

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.  

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