Netflix settles class action suit (with no added late fees)

Thousands of past and present Netflix subscribers received an email last week informing them that they were entitled to some free movie rentals. The offer is the company's way of settling a class action lawsuit filed in San Francisco last year, which alleged Netflix failed to make good on their promises of "unlimited" rentals and one-day delivery. For lapsed customers, responding to the email will get them a free month of rentals, while current customers can upgrade their service contract, increasing the number of DVDs received at one time. According to one website critical of the settlement, however, it will then be up to the customer to then cancel the new or upgraded subscription, or they will continued to be billed for it. (If you didn't get the original email and believe you're entitled to free movies, too, check the Netflix settlement website here.)