Implication notes
Forced arbitration and class waivers
Several brands put dispute resolution in the same click-through that unlocks Netflix. LG’s August 2026 User Agreements prompt was, by LG’s own support article, mainly an arbitration update. The last full published on-TV Terms of Use (January 2024) already required US binding arbitration and a class waiver.
Arbitration clauses decide *where* a privacy fight can happen. Class waivers decide whether it can happen at scale.
**LG, January 2024 Terms of Use.** The Smart Media Product Terms of Use in this corpus (from the same public Legal Notice PDF as the Viewing Information Agreement) already required US residents to use binding AAA arbitration, waived jury trial and class actions, and offered a 30-day opt-out by email to optout@lge.com or 1-800-980-2973. The heading is “Dispute Resolution for United States Residents”; the body still says “this EULA.” Choice of law elsewhere is the courts of the country of sale. The companion Legal Notice (software license) does **not** contain that US arbitration clause.
**LG, August 2026 support copy.** LG USA Support later told owners that a User Agreements screen was normal because LG updated its Terms of Use, “mainly the Arbitration Agreement,” effective August 28, 2026, after 30 days’ notice, and that smart apps stay locked until the required Terms of Use and Privacy Policy are accepted. A FAQ added that a “primary goal” was to “improve the dispute resolution process.” That support article is stored as sample. Do not treat the January 2024 wording as the August 2026 on-TV text.
**What is not the on-TV Terms of Use.** https://www.lg.com/us/arbitration is Limited Warranty arbitration (also AAA, class waiver, same opt-out email). ThinQ / LGE Service Terms on regional lg.com sites explicitly exclude Smart Media Products. Developer-forum terms are not TV User Agreements.
**Sony and Hisense on the web.** Sony Electronics’ website Terms of Use (effective August 24, 2021 in the snapshot) require binding individual arbitration with a 30-day mailed opt-out. That is the *website* ToS, not a captured on-TV BRAVIA EULA. Samba TV’s Terms of Service (May 18, 2020) do **not** contain a consumer arbitration clause; section 11.2 sends disputes to state and federal courts in San Francisco County, California. Hisense’s Android EULA (July 29, 2025) puts a US arbitration agreement and class waiver in Section 14, with a 30-day opt-out. TCL’s site terms flag mandatory individual arbitration in Section 12.
**Samsung.** The on-TV Dispute Resolution Agreement was not captured (403). The Texas AG petition describes it as part of the Smart Hub setup stack.
Opt-out windows are short and often run from first purchase. Calendar them then, not after a news cycle.
Excerpts in the corpus
LG · terms-of-use · Jan 1, 2024
“you and LGE agree that any and all disputes arising in connection with this EULA shall be resolved by binding arbitration.”
January 2024 Smart Media Product Terms of Use, section 20. The clause text says “this EULA” even though the document is titled Terms of Use.
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LG · terms-of-use · Jan 1, 2024
“YOU UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT, BY ENTERING INTO THIS EULA, YOU AND LGE ARE EACH WAIVING THE RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY OR TO PARTICIPATE IN A CLASS ACTION.”
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LG · terms-of-use · Jan 1, 2024
“To opt out, you must send notice to LG no later than 30 calendar days from the date of the first consumer purchaser’s purchase of the product by either: (i) sending an e-mail to [optout@lge.com], with the subject line: “Arbitration Opt Out” or (ii) calling 1-800-980-2973.”
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LG · terms-of-use · Aug 28, 2026
“LG updated its Terms of Use, mainly the Arbitration Agreement. The updated terms took effect on August 28, 2026.”
Quoted from LG USA Support, not from the unpublished August 2026 on-TV clause.
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LG · terms-of-use · Aug 28, 2026
“The Terms of Use and Privacy Policy are required to use smart services such as Netflix and YouTube. All other agreements are optional.”
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LG · terms-of-use · Aug 28, 2026
“A primary goal of this update is to improve the dispute resolution process so that customer claims can be resolved more quickly and amicably.”
FAQ “Why Did LG Update the Terms of Use?” on the same support article.
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Sony · terms-of-use · Aug 24, 2021
“You and Sony agree that all Disputes shall be resolved exclusively through binding arbitration.”
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Hisense · terms-of-use · Jul 29, 2025
“THIS AGREEMENT CONTAINS A BINDING ARBITRATION AGREEMENT AND CLASS ACTION WAIVER IN SECTION 14 APPLICABLE TO UNITED STATES OR OTHER COUNTRY RESIDENTS UNLESS YOU TIMELY OPT OUT.”
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TCL · terms-of-use · Jun 27, 2024
“Note that Section 12 of these Terms contains a mandatory arbitration provision that requires TCL and you to use binding arbitration on an individual basis”
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