Spotify class action alleges company misled consumers on Car Thing functionality

Spotify class action lawsuit overview:

• Who: Plaintiffs Hamza Mazumder, Anthony Bracarello and Luke Martin filed a class action lawsuit against Spotify USA Inc.
• Why: Spotify Car Thing devices will reportedly be rendered useless in December, but the company fails to provide any remedy for purchasers.
• Where: The Spotify class action lawsuit was filed in New York federal court.

A new Spotify class action lawsuit alleges the company misled consumers about its Car Thing device and did not warn them it would disable the use of the product.

Plaintiffs Hamza Mazumder, Anthony Bracarello and Luke Martin each purchased Spotify Car Thing, which allows drivers to listen to and navigate the music player while driving. This product was initially introduced to the U.S. market in 2021, according to the Spotify class action lawsuit.

On Dec. 9, 2024, Spotify Car Thing devices will be rendered useless through a forced firmware update, the plaintiffs say.

As a result, consumers who purchased the devices will be left “with nothing more than a paperweight that cost between $50 and $100,” the Spotify class action lawsuit says.

The plaintiffs claim Spotify represented to consumers: “Car Thing is its own thing. Let your phone do phone stuff. Car Thing has one job and does it awesomely.”

However, the company allegedly failed to inform consumers of its intent to prematurely render the Spotify Car Thing device obsolete.

Spotify class action says company fails to offer adequate remedy for obsolete product

According to the Spotify class action lawsuit, the plaintiffs each received an email on May 23 informing them Car Thing’s service would be discontinued and would no longer be operational on Dec. 9.

Had they known Spotify Car Thing’s functionality would be disabled, the plaintiffs say they would not have paid as much for the device, or would not have purchased it at all.

They claim Spotify fails to offer consumers an appropriate remedy for the soon-to-be obsolete Spotify Car Thing. They point to numerous online complaints from consumers upset over Spotify’s decision to disable the devices without offering them anything to mitigate their losses.

The plaintiffs filed the class action lawsuit on behalf of all persons in the U.S. and its territories who purchased a Spotify Car Thing device prior to May 23. They also seek to represent Florida, New York and Pennsylvania subclasses.

The complaint asserts claims for violation of the federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act; trespass to chattels; violations of Florida, New York and Pennsylvania consumer protection laws and unjust enrichment.

The Spotify class action seeks actual damages, punitive damages, statutory damages, injunctive relief, disgorgement and other relief the court deems proper.

In 2018, a federal judge approved a $43 million Spotify class action settlement over allegations of copyright infringement and unpaid royalties to songwriters.

Did you purchase a Spotify Car Thing? Tell us what you think about Spotify’s plan to disable the use of the product in the comments below.

The plaintiffs are represented by Tyler Litke, Mitchell Breit, Adam Edwards and Leland Belew of Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman PLLC.

The Spotify Car Thing class action lawsuit is Hamza Mazumder, et al. v. Spotify USA Inc., Case No. 1:24-cv-04077, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

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