Google's $8.5 million Buzz settlement a go

theregister.co.uk

4 points·Mithrandir··3 comments

This is ridiculous. So two lawyers are getting paid 2.125 million dollars (25% of the $8.5M settlement) for suing Google on my behalf over something I don't mind? I never signed up to make a couple of guys millionaires from a complaint about a free service.

Is there a way to protest this kind of absurd class action suit and reduce the payout?

Yes, but just to make sure everybody understands it's only the lawyers (and dubious privacy organizations) who get paid, they sent out an email to every Google Mail user stating (quote):

"Just to be clear, this is not a settlement in which people who use Gmail can file to receive compensation. Everyone in the U.S. who uses Gmail is included in the settlement, unless you personally decide to opt out before December 6, 2010. The Court will consider final approval of the agreement on January 31, 2011."

here is what I sent Google in response:

I love Gmail. I've loved it since the beginning when I got an invite code from [redacted] and I think it has just gotten better and better over the years. But, I am disappointed that you didn't commit to being more careful with how you handle privacy leaks with new products. Either make a commitment that you won't intentionally do something like this again, or admit that your plan is to "educate" people about auto-added privacy-violating products that ride on Gmail's coattails. If you plan on going the latter route, please let me know so I can switch to a different email provider now.

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