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An actress is suing Amazon for $1 million for revealing her age on the company’s film and TV industry database IMDb. The suit says the actress, who didn’t want to reveal her identity, attempted to increase her exposure on the website in 2008 by subscribing via credit card to IMDb Pro, which offers more information than the public site. She changed her name and didn’t reveal her age when providing information for her profile, but soon after joining, her age appeared on the site, “revealing to the public that plaintiff is many years older than she looks,” the lawsuit states, according to AFP. The info harms her chances of landing film roles, the suit claims. She believes the site performed record searches using her credit card information to obtain her age; she has asked the information to be removed, but IMDb has not done so. The lawsuit alleges fraud, breach of contract and violations of her private life and consumer rights. Amazon declined comment, the report says.
Actress Sues Amazon For Showing Her Age On Industry Database IMDb
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It’s time for Amazon to step up and take responsibility for IMDB & IMDBpro’s factually incorrect and out of date databases.
I agree.
If people are starting to rely on anonymous Internet database information for job offers, your best bet will be to move into one of the OWS camps and joint the rest of the chronically unemployed.
Oh please! My IMDb page doesn’t show my age, but then again I monitor it and I have control over what’s published. She has the same option. So my advice to her is quit your whining and thinking you’re going to make an easy buck off Amazon, step up and take care of your own business!
You have the opportunity of taking control and managing your IMDb page. If there is incorrect information on it, it’s your fault not Amazons.
I’m sure that’s the reason she’s not getting work as an actress.
Based on what you read in this article, how do you know she’s not getting work?
Oh yeah, maybe it’s her age. Or maybe being based out of Seattle is her biggest hurdle in getting callbacks for films and shows that are produced in LA and NY. But we don’t really know that for sure, do we? All we know for sure is that IMDb is poorly managed and difficult to deal with. Only reason we keep using IMDb is because no one else with capital and free time has bothered to launch a competitor. Yet.
She’s not from Seattle. She’s just suing from a Washington court.
Actually being based out of Seattle might not be such a bad thing considering how much filming is done in Vancouver these days.
I’m behind this chick 100%. She’s doing way more for this issue than any of our unions ever did. It’s essential that casting is able to make an assessment of an actor based on what age they play, not what age they are.
With very rare and limited exception, the two are the same.
And thinking otherwise is a futile exercise in self-deception.
Most 40 year-olds with “help” don’t look like 30 year-olds: They look like 40 year-olds who have ruined their faces.
Lillian, you don’t know what you are talking about. Men and women into their 30s get carded to make sure they are over 18 and over 21. And hence, yes, they play much younger than they are. Many women look either younger or older than their real age. Things have changed now with sunscreen but when I first came to LA, there were girls barely 30 who I thought were pushing 50 because of their dry lined skin. Well, if they are wanting to hire someone who looks 30 to them, it doesn’t matter if you are 30 if they see 40.
And smart actors/actresses don’t deceive themselves — they take ‘type me’ sessions where strangers — other actors — tell them what age they think they’ll get hired for.
Shit, you think a person knowing your age is bad? I have to pee in a cup and have it sent to a lab and agree to a financial and criminal background check when I get a job offer.
Agreed! I hope she wins this lawsuit.
This actress sounds like an idiot. IMDb info is posted and edited by its users. Anyone can go on and post or change the age of an actor or actress. She could go on herself and change her age right now. She obviously thinks she’s a lot more important than she is.
Actually, you’re wrong. Age is one of the few things you CANNOT change on IMDB. You can not have it hidden on IMDBPro but you can’t remove it, it’ll always show up on the normal site. The actual age of an actor (or sexual orientation/religious/political beliefs for that matter), especially for women, definitely hurts chances of employment.
Obviously you’ve never tried to change anything on IMDB. It’s not that simple. Anyone can SUBMIT changes. But someone else “checks” and has to authorize the change and put it into effect. Or else anyone can put that they directed “Casablanca.” I have credits on my page that don’t belong to me and I’ve attempted to remove them multiple times. They’re still there.
It is true that IMDB is a weak site for anything…I have credits on my page that are not mine and IMDB has refused to list other credits that are mine…I stand with the young lady who has been hurt by this and meetings have taken place at the Union to discuss actions against the site. I’m amazed Amazon hasn’t done something about the poor publicity IMDB has gotten.
IMDb Pro does not allow users to change their age. You can email them every day if you like, but they will not remove your birthdate.
You are the idiot. It has been WELL documented that IMDBpro refused to allow actors to remove their ages and IMDBpro also used slimey ways to get the ages in the first place including, when it switched over to pro, when you sign up for it, the age was asked as a security measure along with your credit card number so it was never revealed that it would be published and then would not be taken down. The current changes allow only if you are a member of IMDB resume you can remove your birthdate, HOWEVER if it is was published there prior, it will still show on regular IMDB even if removed by Pro. It has affected many, many people’s careers and actors and agents have been fighting for this for a long time.
You’re missing the point of what she’s alleging in the suit: that the site “performed record searches using her credit card information to obtain her age” which would be in violation of the site’s terms of service.
Who knows if “she obviously thinks she’s a lot more important than she is”. She probably DOES know how hard it is for women to get roles once they hit a certain age, and if she was managing to camouflage it – more power to her.
You are incorrect. I have tried to do this for years and they will not respond or change that information. Once it is there, it is there for life.
You have obviously never tried to get IMDB to change anything on your profile before. They are IMPOSSIBLE to motivate. I’ve tried for years to get them to take something off my page that I never posted, but if they find it to be accurate, even if you’d rather not list it, they just don’t respond. We should be able to monitor what is listed on our own credits if there are things we don’t want. Just as you wouldn’t put a certain job on your resume if you didn’t want to. I don’t know how successful this actress will be, and it will most certainly hurt her career unfortunately, but I commend her for getting pissed enough to try.
Not true that she could change it. I have tried, numerous times, to change my birth date info so that it just shows the month and day, not the year, and they have refused to accept the change every time.
You’re wrong, JohnT. Birthdate’s can’t be changed by users on imdb. They demand proof of age and refuse to delete birthdays if someone requests them removed. It’s pretty hardcore. Good for her for suing.
As you accuse idiocy, son, perhaps you are more apt to address the mirror as you are incorrect on all that you’ve stated as fact. Beyond that, I tend to like her chances as this becomes adjudicated.
You couldn’t be more wrong that IMDB is easy to change. It’s impossible, and it’s an invasion of privacy to print anything other than a photo and the work the actor is known for. Especially in this culture, where the slightest bit of bias will make or kill a job for an actor, it’s crucial that the work information be factual and the printing of the age be nonexistent. As a previous commenter said, it’s about what age an actor can play, not what year they were born.
Agreed on all accounts.
She can’t just change the info herself – she has to submit the change to the IMDb editors, and they either take their sweet time to change it, or just don’t.
Anyone can submit info and updates; doesn’t mean they get posted.
No, actually you’re wrong, she can’t. That is not how the IMDB process works. You can change all of the other information posted but you cannot change age unless you have a legal document with proof of legal age. And, once age is posted it cannot be erased. I know many actresses/actors who have lost work over this issue.
I heard the actress is Betty White. Doesn’t seem to be hurting her much.
leave it to some old broad to not understand how the internet works.
“Im not smart” is exactly where it’s at with you as is reflective in your comment.
Lighten up, Cloris Leachman.
~
Coat
I’m not sure I can get behind an actress’s right to command others to withhold information about her, but I do find IMDB’s practices horrid in other ways. I know actresses who’ve had incorrect birth dates and ages posted, and had no success at getting IMDB to change the information. I have had incorrect credits listed for myself; had decades old, two day jobs listed as what I’m “known for,” and other indignities. Since it’s used as such a go-to for so many, it’s a shame they don’t take their task more seriously.
Matthew’s right, and I think anyone who works regularly and whose credits are searched on the site know that Imdb is terribly inaccurate. When I was directing my first film, actors whom I had never met were going on the film’s page and adding themselves to the cast. But I was unable to change my own bio or add legitimate film credits (because they weren’t announced in the trades. Everything has to be announced in the trades or they won’t be posted). So, JohnT, whoever you are, you’ve just outed yourself as an Imdb amateur. Imdb’s unresponsive nature is well known in the business, but the business uses the site religiously, regardless. (InBaseline is far more accurate, I don’t know why it’s not utilized more. Maybe beacuse of the paywall.) I have no doubt that the actress tried and tried to change her birth date to no avail. This lawsuit might seem on the surface to be without merit, but it might bring needed attention, at long last, to Imdb’s shoddy system, and for that we might all be grateful.
I second that. Here’s my favorite, look up Rob Walker (I). They have him credited as a go-go dancer in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. I know Rob, he’s a very talented director and very nice guy in the real world. But he was never a go-go dancer in anything. He tried getting the information taken down but IMDb didn’t budge.
Completely agree. IMDB needs to heed what an actor or actress does or doesn’t want listed on their pages including biographical information. I have first hand experience of one actor who has tried unsuccessfully twice now to have biographical information removed that was not added to the bio by the actor, the manager or the agent and IMDB refuses to do so even when explicitly stated as a request of the actor. The fact that anyone can go into those pages and add information not officially approved beforehand by the actor/actress or his/her representation is outrageous and needs to change.
It’s Dakota Fanning, right?
Rob FTW
Hahahaha yes!
She is an Asian actress so no
Nope, it’s Phyllis Diller
“The info harms her chances of landing film roles, the suit claims.”
No, but this lawsuit does.
She does realize that IMDB is often user updated, correct? What an idiot. $1 million? For what? Lost wages? Does she really think she’d eventually hit the big leagues and has thus lost out on a massive series of massive paydays for big roles? LOL, yeah, ok. Put on your big girl pants and go back home to Alabama sweetheart, clearly acting isn’t your strong suite or you wouldnt be looking for a quick payday by playing victim.
You’re missing the point, she could sue for $1.00 or a Million $’s it doesn’t matter because she just needs to make a point, and you would certainly pay more attention to someone who is suing you for a million than a dollar. Her privacy has been invaded, and she even gave them chances to change her info, but they never did, so she has a point. I’m sure she will win – people are fed up with corporations apathy to real people.
I actually agree with her on this one. IMDB has no right to divulge any personal information other than what the performer wishes. What’s next? They list whose been to re-hab or had botox? How about sexual preference?
Women especially have the right not to have their age listed, there are many women who are 40 who can easily pass for 30. They would naturally be eliminated from many roles if their age is revealed.
Changing your info is next to impossible. I wanted to change my bio once after i put it up and they wouldn’t do it, even though I explained that it was my page. They have to run a more responsible site.
I can’t wait for this trial but it will be dismissed for merit. Actors who think professionals in this business are so blind that they can’t surmise someone’s age just by looking at them are as foolish as those actresses who think they can change their name on IMDB.PRO and suddenly have a new (chance at a) career.
Riddle me this: If this persona is so significantly older than they claimed to be, yet only had existing credits for which by changing their name they were willing to lose (or did they list false credits under the false name?), what damages were actually incurred by the ultimate disclosure of accurate information on their age? They didn’t lose a career, standing, reputation…nothing of any value for which damages would be owed. They appear to have had no credit based or reputation based career to begin with and are stabbing in the dark for blame for that – on something as pathetic as age but now can put another face to it – that evil AMAZON! The only fraud here is the actress, in my view.
No she can’t John T, you are the idiot. ANYONE can add any birthdate they want, but if you try to change it, it’s not allowed. My account was crossed with someone else’s information and it was impossible to get her information off my page.
Good for her!
It’s about time. I know people who’s ages are on their incorrectly they have tried with attorneys and with passport photos but still they ignore them.
Unless you have a dream to work as talent in the entertainment industry you could not possibly understand or care about the ramifications of having your age posted publicly without the option of removing. SO IMAGINE IF YOUR DREAM INDUSTRY – i.e. trucking – were age-sensitive and a site kept a McCarthy-era like tab on your age for all the public (potential employers) to see, effectively making you less desirable for employment. IMDB effectively facilitates age discrimination which is illegal. If IMDB should win, they could then freely post ethnicities and sexual orientation. For an industry deeply affected by McCarthyism, I’d think there would be universal support to make sure it never happens again. All this is to say I hope she wins, I hope Amazon who now owns IMDB understands how wrong it is to own control over someone’s personal info. Personally I posted my age on the site in 2004 when all sites let you add and delete personal info at will. Only when I aged and wanted to remove did I find out I couldn’t.
John T– imdb will not remove age information once it’s up there, even if the person themselves gives them alternative info.
Can someone please explain the infrastructure of IMDB? That is, who does the fact-checking, etc? It’s a website everyone looks at but it’s full of more BS than anything on Wikipedia.
This should be a class-action lawsuit against IMDB. John T talking out of his arse as users are not able to adjust or eliminate ages from database.
This is ridiculous. I’ve posted/corrected info for myself and my friends numerous times and it’s always been changed. I highly doubt IMDB posted her age info on their own.
Jennifer Anniston is 43 years old , her movies don’t sell tickets and she still gets work….Sandra Bullock is 47 years old and still gets work…..Angelina Jolie is 35 years old and she doesn’t work a lot because she doesn’t want to, and she’s at the ” perfect age ” for good roles
…..I would say once you 45 and over , you can play a young mom etc…until then if this actress is not over 45 years old, she still can play fun roles….unless she’s very ugly, and fat and has no talent, then that would be different….I enjoy still being young, hot , but with the maturity that I didn’t have in my teens or twenties….a young , developing woman is sexy…a girl is not sexy! An old crow is not sexy….I don’t know why actresses in LA freak out about their age so much, because they don’t have any talent….then they wouldn’t get cast even if they’re 15 years old, just because they don’t have what it takes!
……if this actress is so old, she should look at Susan Sarandon who is 63 years old and still rocking a just turned legal drinking age guy! This actress who freaks out about her age must be that she has not talent, cannot act, ugly, fat, and wouldn’t get cast anyway even if she was 21 years old….there’s always plastic surgery, is huge in Hollywood…..everyone starts getting fixes starting at 19 years old and on…..quality , quality, quality is something in the industry will never understand:)!
Here it is…in the modeling industry, there are millions of girls who want to model, but 99 percent of them don’t have what it takes to make it to be a super model, this means at any age! The same goes for acting industry, lots of people want to become actors….but 99 percent of them don’t have what it takes to shine to the top, and this applies to any age too…..so the good roles are not written for teenagers, and young twenties who just turned legal drinking age….they’re for actresses in their ” thirties “, great age for women
You have a simplistic understanding of the industry – and obviously have never been “talent”. Exceptions do not make the rule. I have been an agent (repping writers, directors and actors) at two of the top agencies and I’ve been an actress and writer myself. Generally speaking, it’s an age-ist industry for everyone – and any agent will tell you that outright – it’s simply the industry-perpetuated REALITY of the business. The younger the better in all categories from the perspective of agents.
Actresses have it the hardest – it’s a small window as it is in which to “make it”. So if you look 10 years younger, then why should IMDB’s posting of the age unduly influence would-be agents, casting directors, etc.
Ultimately, it’s bigger than the industry. A “website” should not be allowed to distribute personal info you don’t wish it to distribute – and it’s illegal in the case of IMDB which is a site that is modeled like a personnel agency with demo reels and CVs and photos – all the things that a “personnel agency” in the entertainment industry would necessitate to get you work.
Well said, Dakota F-on all counts. BTW, its my guess that its a privacy issue -Her age is not listed on her credit card. They pulled her credit report. Very probable impermissible access case. 15 U.S.C. Section 1681b. IMDb-shady shady shady and time they get their due!
Here are the facts.
Anyone can put your age up on IMDB. Once it is up there is no way to get it down. The only thing you can do is change your age but you have to provide them with a birth certificate.
Casting directors use this site to look up actors. It hurts the actor to have her age up there. In fact, if a casting director doesn’t bring you in because you are actually too old or too young it is a form of age discrimination.
This is a dicey area because actors are discriminated all the time based on different criteria. But they are usually discriminated against based on a physical appearance. How old a person actually is is of no consequence and shouldn’t be made public against somebody’s wishes. This should be true for anyone, actor or not. I don’t want my address published. I don’t want my social security number published. I don’t want my age published. That should be my right.
Obviously people can find this information out if they look hard enough. But to put it on a website that is used by industry professionals is tacky, unnecessary, and irresponsible. Imagine if monster.com started publishing ages. Would people be okay with that? I think not.
IMDB will tell you that actors are public figures so it’s okay. Well, most actors do not qualify as public figures. And for the few famous actors who do, fine, put up their ages.
It should also be noted that IMDB charges a hefty fee to actors to put their pictures and resumes online. And if you pay, they allow you to take your age off of the IMDBPro site. However, you still can’t remove it from the public site. It just doesn’t make sense. Putting up people’s ages can’t help their business. So why do they insist on winning this battle?
Wrong. ProIMDB does NOT allow you to remove your age. It just allows you to keep your age off the main page. Your age is visible with just one click.
if being too old disqualified actors for getting jobs most of the cast of GLEE wouldn’t have jobs…
You are obviously not using all of your reasoning abilities, because you are assuming the actors for Glee didn’t have any problems getting jobs prior to or during the casting of Glee due to their age – that’s just wrong. For all you know, they ALL lied about their age to get the job, or did not reveal their age prior to being cast.
JohnT wrote – >>”This actress sounds like an idiot. IMDb info is posted and edited by its users. Anyone can go on and post or change the age of an actor or actress. She could go on herself and change her age right now. She obviously thinks she’s a lot more important than she is.”<<
One billion percent not true. Age is one of the few things you can NOT change. The guilds have been trying to give actors, writers, etc. control over IMDB's ability to post their age, for years. In IMDB PRO you can at least move it to the second page under "personal details" . But, that's not like it's hidden in any way.
Good for this actress! As a writer I've gotten jobs based on the car I drive! (pathetic, but an example of what a big roll perception plays in our industry). I have no doubt age affects casting and hiring decisions every day. Let the work speak for the artist.
Once IMDB posts info, it is almost impossible to get them to take it down if they deem it accurate. Only what they find inaccurate is taken down and even then, it can be a real battle to get it done. I have had these issues on our films and I know many actors who have been very frustrated in dealing with them. The info on there can harm people’s careers. Though accurate info that you might not like, I’m not sure what cause you’d have for a lawsuit. But there’s no question IMDB needs to take more responsibility and have a way for verified individuals/companies to have an easier time to alter their profiles especially as it pertains to inaccurate info.