Content Creators Claim Company’s Honey Browser Extension, Rewards Program Divert Commissions
SAN DIEGO – January 6, 2025 – DiCello Levitt has filed a class action lawsuit against PayPal, Inc. and PayPal Holdings, Inc. on behalf of Claudia Jayne Young and other affiliate marketers—content creators who include bloggers, podcasters, and influencers. The lawsuit alleges that PayPal has been systematically stealing affiliate marketing commissions through its Honey browser extension and PayPal Rewards program.
The complaint, filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, claims that PayPal’s Honey browser extension, which was acquired in 2020, replaces the affiliate marketer’s cookie with its own, thereby taking credit for the sale and the resulting commission. Similarly, the PayPal Rewards program, formerly known as Honey Gold, is accused of diverting commissions away from affiliate marketers and to PayPal.
Claudia Jayne Young, an Instagram content creator, has experienced a flat income from affiliate marketing despite the growth of her following. She believes that PayPal’s actions have diverted commissions that rightfully belong to her and other affiliate marketers.
“PayPal is building a multi-billion dollar business by leveraging the work of countless content creators for its own benefit, swooping in at the last minute to take affiliate marketing commissions that rightfully belong to content creators like Ms. Young,” said DiCello Levitt Partner Daniel Schwartz. “DiCello Levitt will work tirelessly to ensure content creators are treated fairly and receive the compensation they rightfully earned.”
The class action seeks to represent a nationwide class of U.S.-based affiliates whose commissions were diverted to PayPal, as well as an Arkansas subclass. The lawsuit alleges tortious interference with prospective economic advantage, conversion, violation of California Business and Professions Code §17045, violation of California’s Unfair Competition Law §17045, violation of the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, AR Code §4-88-107, and unjust enrichment.
The case is Claudia Jayne Young v. PayPal, Inc. and PayPal Holdings, Inc., Case No. 5:25-cv-00124. A copy of the complaint is available here.
About DiCello Levitt
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Media Contact Caitlin Whitehurst, Director of Communications, [email protected]