){kind=logo}
A class action law suit was filed in federal district court in California against AT&T Mobility and unnamed sponsors of sweepstakes tied to various television shows, alleging that the defendants conducted an illegal lottery by charging 99¢ for individuals to enter the sweepstakes by sending a text message. The plaintiff is seeking restitution of the premium fees to every AT&T Mobility subscriber who has entered a sweepstakes by sending a text message.
According to the plaintiff, these sweepstakes constitute an illegal lottery because the 99¢ fee "purchased nothing except a chance to win a prize," and the alternate, free method of entry - filling out a form online - required more effort than sending a text message, required entrants to provide more information (such as name, email address, telephone number, date of birth, state of residence, and whether the entrant would like to receive emails and promotional offers), and was not advertised as frequently or as conspicuously as the text message method of entry. Moreover, plaintiff alleged, the information provided to defendants in connection with the alternate method of entry provided a benefit to defendants and thus constituted "consideration." The plaintiff also claimed that the defendants misrepresented the odds of winning and the grand prize available in each sweepstakes. The sweepstakes are tied to television shows including Deal or No Deal and Survivor.
Last year, four class action lawsuits were filed in California and Georgia against sweepstakes sponsors and producers of television shows, with similar claims that the defendants engaged in illegal lotteries by charging individuals a premium fee to enter the sweepstakes by sending a text message. One complaint was withdrawn, but the other cases are still being litigated.
This client alert is a publication of Loeb & Loeb LLP and is intended to provide information on recent legal developments. This client alert does not create or continue an attorney client relationship nor should it be construed as legal advice or an opinion on specific situations.
For more information, please contact a member of Loeb & Loeb's Advertising & Media Group.
Circular 230 Disclosure: To assure compliance with Treasury Department rules governing tax practice, we inform you that any advice (including in any attachment) (1) was not written and is not intended to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalty that may be imposed on the taxpayer, and (2) may not be used in connection with promoting, marketing or recommending to another person any transaction or matter addressed herein.