A judge has irreversibly dismissed a class action suit against Amazon’s Prime Video streaming service. In a lawsuit lodged in February 2024, the complainants claimed that the abrupt introduction of advertisements was an unlawful hidden price hike. However, US District Judge Barbara J. Rothstein closed the case last week, stating that the inclusion of ads did not constitute a price alteration and was rather an adjustment to the current subscription plan.

The court indicated that Amazon’s terms and conditions clarify that the Prime package may evolve over time.

“Amazon’s addition of advertisements to Prime Video was not a price increase; it was a modification of benefits, and such modification was specifically anticipated and permitted by the parties’ governing agreements,” the judge concluded. She had previously expressed her disagreements with the case multiple times. Complainants are no longer permitted to pursue the case again.

Thus, ads on Prime are here to stay. In fact, it’s probable that we’ll see an increase. In June, an exclusive report by Adweek revealed that Amazon is set to double its advertisements. To circumvent this, users can choose to pay an additional $3 monthly.