Two free months of TED Membership
Class members who do not opt out or submit a cash or donation claim may receive an activation link for two membership months, estimated by the official notice to be worth at least $10. Activation is required.
TED Foundation Video Privacy Settlement — File a Claim
Updated September 8, 2026
- Defendant
- TED Foundation, Inc.
- Status
- Open to claims
- Potential payout
- Two free months of TED Membership, or a $5 cash or donation option
- Claim deadline
- October 26, 2026
- Settlement fund
- Up to $350,000 for approved cash claims
- Proof required
- No claim form proof for basic payout
Overview
- Who is covered
- U.S. TED account holders who watched a pre-recorded TED video during the class period
- Class period
- October 19, 2021 through July 14, 2026
- Claim deadline
- Submit a cash or donation claim by October 26, 2026
- Benefit choices
- Two free membership months, or a $5 cash or donation option
TED Foundation, Inc. is the nonprofit organization behind TED Talks, TED.com, and TED's mobile applications. People typically interact with TED by watching recorded talks, creating an account, or using its website and apps. This settlement concerns allegations that information connecting account holders to the videos they watched was disclosed to third-party service providers without the informed, written consent required by the federal Video Privacy Protection Act.
Plaintiffs Kimberly Sutton, David Ramirez, and Tyler Baker sued on behalf of a proposed class of TED account holders. They alleged that TED transmitted names, email addresses, account identifiers, and video-viewing information to analytics or engagement providers including Leanplum, Mixpanel, and OpenWeb. TED denies wrongdoing. It says it did not disclose names or email addresses together with video views in a form legible to an ordinary person, that transmitted data was encrypted and encoded, and that its use of third-party software fell within the law's ordinary-course-of-business exception.
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York granted preliminary approval on July 14, 2026. Preliminary approval means the judge authorized notice and the claims process; it is not a finding that TED violated the law and is not final approval of the settlement.
Class members automatically qualify for two free months of TED Membership, estimated in the official notice to have a value of at least $10, if they activate the benefit. Instead, a class member may submit a valid claim for a $5 cash payment, subject to possible pro rata reduction, or direct that cash amount back to TED as a donation. Cash claims are capped at $350,000 in total. Claims, objections, and exclusion requests are due October 26, 2026.
Who qualifies
- You were a TED account holder in the United States.
- You watched at least one pre-recorded video on TED.com or TED's iOS or Android mobile application between October 19, 2021 and July 14, 2026.
- You are not the assigned judge or magistrate, a member of their family, TED or an affiliated entity, a covered TED officer, director, agent, attorney or employee, or another person excluded by the official class definition.
- You did not submit a valid request to exclude yourself by October 26, 2026; people who opt out are not entitled to settlement benefits.
What you could receive
$5 cash payment
Submit a valid claim by October 26, 2026. The payment may be reduced pro rata if approved cash claims would exceed the settlement's $350,000 cash cap.
Direct the $5 amount to TED as a donation
This is an alternative to cash and membership, not an opt-out. A claimant choosing it remains bound by the settlement release and should not assume the donation is tax-deductible.
A class member who remains in the settlement may activate two free months of TED Membership, which the official notice estimates is worth at least $10. A class member may instead submit a claim for a $5 cash payment or choose a donation option under which that cash amount is remitted to TED Foundation. The cash option is supported by a fund capped at $350,000, and individual cash payments can be reduced proportionally if approved claims would exceed that cap. The membership, cash, and donation choices are alternatives, not benefits that can be combined. No benefit is distributed until the settlement becomes effective after final approval and any appeals.
How to file your claim
- 1Go to the court-authorized TEDVPPASettlement.com claim page and enter the Claim ID and PIN from your notice. Each Claim ID can be used for one claim.
- 2Choose either the cash-payment option or the donation option. Do not submit a claim if you prefer the automatic membership benefit.
- 3Confirm your contact and payment information, review the certification, and submit the online form by 11:59 p.m. on October 26, 2026. A paper claim must be mailed according to the official form's instructions by the deadline.
- 4Save the confirmation and a copy of the form. Contact the settlement administrator—not Class Action Pulse—if you cannot find your Claim ID, need to update an address, or have a claim-processing question.
Official settlement site: TEDVPPASettlement.com. Class Action Pulse is not the settlement administrator or a law firm — always verify eligibility, deadlines, and payout details through the official source above.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I receive both the TED Membership benefit and the $5 cash payment?
No. The official notice presents the membership benefit, cash payment, and donation as alternatives. A class member who wants cash or the donation option must submit a valid claim; a person who takes the membership benefit must activate it.
Do I need receipts or other proof to claim the $5 payment?
No purchase receipt or loss documentation is listed for the $5 option, but the administrator requires a valid, timely claim tied to a class member's Claim ID and PIN. Submission does not guarantee approval.
What happens if I do nothing?
If the settlement becomes final, a class member who does nothing may receive an email link to activate two free months of TED Membership. Unless the person validly opted out, the person will also be bound by the settlement's release of covered claims.
Has the court decided that TED violated the Video Privacy Protection Act?
No. TED denies wrongdoing, and the court has not decided which side is right. Preliminary approval authorized notice and the settlement process; the final approval hearing is scheduled for November 12, 2026.
Is choosing the donation option the same as opting out?
No. The donation option directs the claimant's settlement amount back to TED and leaves the claimant bound by the settlement. Opting out produces no settlement benefit but preserves the person's ability to pursue released claims separately, subject to applicable law.