Hammack argues the VPPA consumer definition is not limited to video subscriptions

Joshua I. HammackCounsel for Michael Salazar at Supreme Court oral argument

Hammack argues that Congress did not limit consumer status to subscriptions for audiovisual goods or services.

“not in the definition of "consumer." That choice is dispositive.”

Original text

Read the original text (opens in a new tab)Salazar v. Paramount Global, official October 14 oral argument transcriptPrinted pages 3-5, Hammack opening; pages 43-45, Clement opening
Paramount signs above the entrance to One Astor Plaza in Times Square.
Credit: Nielsoncaetanosalmeron

Where this statement fits

Paramount says a newsletter subscription does not confer video-privacy protections; Salazar disagrees

Paramount argues that the Video Privacy Protection Act protects a subscriber only when the subscription concerns audiovisual goods or services. Michael Salazar argues that his newsletter subscription is enough to qualify him as a consumer under the statute.

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Source and context

Original text

Salazar v. Paramount Global, official October 14 oral argument transcript (opens in a new tab)Printed pages 3-5, Hammack opening; pages 43-45, Clement opening

About this source

Counsel dispute the meaning of consumer in the Video Privacy Protection Act. The argument concerns who may sue; it is not a finding that every element of Salazar's claim has been proved.

Archived copy (opens in a new tab)

Before the quotation

Hammack distinguished the statute's definitions of provider, protected information and consumer.

After the quotation

His interpretation concerns who is protected by the statute; other liability requirements remain separate.

How this statement is classified

Challenged the characterization

The label describes this statement's response within the context above.

Why this label?

The reference is Paramount's narrow consumer definition. Hammack challenges that legal interpretation rather than defending Paramount's exclusion.

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Hammack argues the VPPA consumer definition is not limited to video subscriptions
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The Dispute Index. "Hammack argues the VPPA consumer definition is not limited to video subscriptions". First published: 2026-10-17. Last updated: 2026-10-17. https://disputeindex.com/events/5891-hammack-argues-that-congress-did-not-limit-consumer