Vizio has agreed to pay $3 million to settle a class-action lawsuit that accused the company of falsely and deceptively advertising the refresh rates of its TVs. The lawsuit, filed in 2018, accused the company of falsely claiming that the "effective" refresh rates for its 60Hz and 120Hz LCD TVs were 120Hz and 240Hz respectively.
In addition to paying $3 million in damages, Vizio promised to stop deceptive advertising practices and agreed to provide "enhanced services" and a one-year limited warranty to all eligible customers. In addition to the settlement damages, Vizio will also pay attorneys' fees to the plaintiffs, the specific amount of which will be determined by the court.
According to details listed on the class action official website, people who purchased a Vizio TV in California after April 30, 2014 are eligible to file a claim. Buyers will be entitled to compensation ranging from $17 to $50 depending on the number of claims, but if the total number of claims exceeds the $3 million fund, the award may be less than $17.
The deadline for claims is March 30, 2024, and claimants will need to provide proof of ownership, including a copy of the receipt or the TV's serial number. For those who purchased a Vizio TV from an online retailer, the place of purchase is the state of residence at the time of purchase.
Consumer electronics companies often use confusing terminology to market their products, and Vizio's claim of "effective refresh rate" is one example. The actual refresh rate is a hardware feature that determines how many frames per second a TV or monitor can display, while the "effective" refresh rate is a software-based operation designed to eliminate motion blur and provide a smoother viewing experience.
The lawsuit, filed in California Superior Court in Los Angeles, points out the difference between actual refresh rates and software-based operations, saying the latter cannot be used to increase a TV's actual refresh rate and therefore should not be advertised as such. It accused Vizio of using misleading advertising and "selling lower quality products at higher prices."