Legal Definitions - opt in

Opt in refers to the act of making a deliberate and affirmative choice to participate in, subscribe to, or be included in a particular program, service, or agreement. It signifies that participation is not automatic; an individual must take a specific action to join or consent.

Here are some examples illustrating the concept of "opt in":

• Imagine a new online streaming service that offers a free 30-day trial. After the trial period, the service will only charge you if you actively choose to continue your subscription. If you want to keep watching, you must navigate to your account settings and confirm your desire to become a paying member. This action of confirming your subscription is an example of opting in to the paid service.

• Consider a company that wants to send its customers marketing emails about new products and special offers. Instead of automatically adding all customers to their mailing list, the company includes a checkbox during the checkout process that says, "Yes, I would like to receive promotional emails." Customers who check this box are actively opting in to receive the marketing communications, indicating their consent.

• In the context of a class-action lawsuit, sometimes a court will require individuals who believe they have been harmed to actively submit a claim form to be included in any potential settlement. For instance, if a car manufacturer faces a lawsuit over a specific defect, affected car owners might receive a notice explaining the lawsuit and providing instructions on how to submit a claim. By completing and returning the claim form, these individuals are opting in to be part of the class and eligible for compensation.