Best Version Media lawsuits fall into two categories: a single federal copyright case brought against the Brookfield, Wisconsin publisher in 2024 that settled within months, and breach-of-contract suits the company itself files against advertisers who stop paying on their multi-year magazine contracts. The larger legal story around BVM, though, is not in court filings but in the Better Business Bureau’s “Pattern of Complaints” alert covering how those advertising contracts are sold, cancelled, and collected on.
The Federal Copyright Case
The one recent lawsuit filed against Best Version Media in federal court is Mango v. Best Version Media, LLC. Photographer Gregory P. Mango sued the company on February 13, 2024, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, alleging copyright infringement under 17 U.S.C. § 501. Mango was represented by the Sanders Law Group; BVM was represented by Michael Best & Friedrich LLP. The case was assigned to Judge Susan Illston.1PACER Monitor. Mango v. Best Version Media, LLC
It did not last long. A notice of settlement was filed on May 8, 2024, followed by a voluntary dismissal on June 3, 2024. The settlement terms were not disclosed in the public docket.1PACER Monitor. Mango v. Best Version Media, LLC
Suits BVM Files Against Advertisers
More common than lawsuits against Best Version Media are lawsuits by it. When advertisers stop paying on their contracts, the company has pursued collection in court. One documented example is Best Version Media, LLC v. Mighty Plumbing and Heating LLC, filed December 16, 2022, in Waukesha County Circuit Court in Wisconsin. The defendant was served on December 28, 2022, but never responded. BVM filed for default on January 25, 2023, and Judge Brad D. Schimel signed an order for judgment on February 9, 2023.2UniCourt. Best Version Media, LLC vs. Mighty Plumbing and Heating LLC
Advertising is sold on 12-, 24-, or 36-month contracts, and the company treats those agreements as binding through their full term.3Best Version Media. Transparency An advertiser who walks away mid-contract can expect a collections referral or, in some cases, a suit.
The BBB Pattern of Complaints
The Better Business Bureau has logged 141 complaints against Best Version Media over a three-year period, with 37 filed in the most recent twelve months. The volume prompted the BBB to attach a formal “Pattern of Complaints” alert to the company’s profile, even though BVM still holds an A+ rating and accredited status.4Better Business Bureau. Best Version Media, LLC BBB Profile
The complaints cluster around a few recurring issues. Advertisers allege they were pressured into 36-month agreements without understanding the length at signing, sometimes because sales presentations were conducted on electronic tablets where the term was hard to spot, with the full written contract emailed only after signature.5Better Business Bureau. Best Version Media, LLC — BBB Complaints Others say the company refused to honor cancellation requests, kept billing after a client tried to stop service, or demanded steep settlement fees to end a contract early. Some report never receiving physical magazine copies or getting little advertising exposure, and say verbal promises from sales reps, such as industry exclusivity within a neighborhood, were not reflected in the written agreement. Several were sent to collections after refusing to pay.6Better Version Bureau. Best Version Media, LLC — BBB Complaints
Of the 141 complaints, 44 were resolved to the complainant’s satisfaction. The remaining 97 were categorized as “answered,” meaning the company responded but the customer either did not accept the response or did not follow up.7Better Business Bureau. Best Version Media, LLC — BBB Complaints
How BVM Responds
Best Version Media has consistently maintained that its contract terms are clearly communicated. The company states that all terms are available in writing before a client signs, that a digital copy of the agreement is delivered immediately after signing, and that clients are told the end date and how to opt out of auto-renewal.5Better Business Bureau. Best Version Media, LLC — BBB Complaints On a dedicated transparency page, BVM describes multi-year contracts as a way to “protect both the advertiser’s and the Publisher’s commissions” and argues that long-term, high-frequency advertising is what drives results for small businesses.3Best Version Media. Transparency
The company also stresses that its advertising is for branding purposes and does not guarantee a specific return on investment. In individual complaint responses, BVM has at times offered early termination settlements or downgraded terms to close out disputes.7Better Business Bureau. Best Version Media, LLC — BBB Complaints
What Advertisers Can Do
The available public record does not show any enforcement action against Best Version Media by the Federal Trade Commission, the Wisconsin Department of Justice, or the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. No class action against the company appears in the file either. That leaves individual channels.
Wisconsin consumers who believe they have been subjected to unfair or deceptive business practices can file a complaint with DATCP, which will contact the business on the consumer’s behalf, though the agency cannot force a resolution.8Wisconsin DATCP. File a Consumer Complaint The Wisconsin Department of Justice has broader authority to seek injunctions, forfeitures, and restitution for consumer protection violations, though it has not publicly disclosed any such action against BVM.9Wisconsin DOJ. Protecting Consumers Filing a BBB complaint is a third option, and the pattern of prior responses suggests BVM will answer, and sometimes negotiate, though not always to the advertiser’s satisfaction.
Best Version Media was acquired by H.I.G. Capital in January 2025.10H.I.G. Capital. H.I.G. Capital Completes Acquisition of Best Version Media Whether the change in ownership affects the contract practices at the center of these disputes is not yet reflected in the available record.