Valnet to pay $2 million to content makers after class-action lawsuit

Valnet, the litigious digital media company that owns Screen Rant, Collider, Game Rant, CBR, Polygon, and TheGamer, has agreed to a $2 million settlement to resolve a dispute over unpaid wages, according to Kotaku. The settlement follows a 2023 class-action suit against Valnet filed by former freelancer Daniel Quintiliano, who alleged that the company misclassified employees as independent contractors across its platforms to avoid paying wages, overtime, business expenses, and benefits. “By signing a settlement agreement and agreeing to ask the Court to enter a judgment ending the Action, Plaintiff and Valnet have negotiated a proposed settlement that is subject to the Court’s final approval,” a court-approved notice read. The settlement agreement reflects Valnet’s denial of wrongdoing: “Both sides agree the proposed settlement is a compromise of disputed claims. By agreeing to settle, Valnet does not admit any violations or concede the merit of any claims.”