Senate File 2269 - Introduced
SENATE FILE 2269
BY REICHMAN
A BILL FOR
1 An Act relating to the use or creation of bots to purchase
2 event tickets on the internet, and providing civil
3 penalties.
4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
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1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 554H.1 Definitions.
2 As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise
3 requires:
4 1. “Bot” means an automated software program that performs
5 automatic and repetitive tasks and is designed to impersonate
6 or replicate human activity on the internet. “Bot” does not
7 include autofill or password management features built into
8 an internet browser or provided through separate internet
9 software.
10 2. “Event” means a concert, theatrical performance, sporting
11 event, exhibition, show, or similar scheduled activity that is
12 all of the following:
13 a. Open to the public.
14 b. Held in a public or private venue.
15 c. Requires payment of an admission fee to attend the event.
16 3. “Ticket” means a physical or electronic certificate,
17 voucher, document, token, or other evidence of a right for
18 admission to enter an event at one or more specified dates and
19 times.
20 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION. 554H.2 Internet ticket sales.
21 A person may not use or create a bot to do any of the
22 following:
23 1. Purchase tickets in excess of eight tickets, or the
24 posted limit if less than eight tickets, for any one internet
25 ticket sale.
26 2. Use multiple internet protocol addresses, purchaser
27 accounts, or electronic mail addresses to purchase tickets in
28 excess of eight tickets, or the posted limit if less than eight
29 tickets, for any one internet ticket sale.
30 3. Circumvent or disable an electronic queue, waiting
31 period, presale code, or other sales volume limitation system
32 associated with an internet ticket sale.
33 4. Circumvent or disable a security measure, access control
34 system, or other control or measure that is used to facilitate
35 authorized entry to an event.
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 S.F. 2269
1 Sec. 3. NEW SECTION. 554H.3 Enforcement —— penalties.
2 1. If the attorney general has reasonable belief that a
3 person is in violation of this chapter, the attorney general
4 has the sole authority to bring civil action to provide for all
5 of the following:
6 a. Enjoinment of further violations by the person.
7 b. Enforcement of compliance with this chapter.
8 c. Assessment of civil penalties in an amount not more than
9 ten thousand dollars for each violation of this chapter.
10 d. Other remedies permitted under law.
11 2. If the attorney general has reasonable belief that a
12 person is in violation of an injunction issued under this
13 section, the attorney general has the sole authority to bring
14 civil action to provide for civil penalties in an amount not
15 more than one hundred thousand dollars.
16 EXPLANATION
17 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
18 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
19 This bill relates to the use or creation of bots to purchase
20 event tickets during internet sales. “Bot”, “event”, and
21 “ticket” are defined by the bill.
22 The bill prohibits a person from creating or using a bot
23 to purchase tickets, or from using multiple internet protocol
24 addresses, purchaser accounts, or electronic mail addresses
25 to purchase tickets in excess of eight tickets, or the posted
26 limit if less than eight tickets, for any one internet ticket
27 sale. The bill also prohibits a person from creating or using
28 a bot to circumvent or disable an electronic queue, waiting
29 period, presale code, or other sales volume limitation system
30 that is associated with an internet ticket sale, or from
31 circumventing or disabling an access control system or other
32 control or measure that is used to facilitate authorized entry
33 to an event.
34 If the attorney general has reasonable belief that a person
35 is in violation of the bill, the attorney general may bring
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 S.F. 2269
1 civil action to enjoin further violations by the person,
2 enforce compliance with the bill, assess a civil penalty
3 in an amount not more than $10,000 for each violation, and
4 other remedies permitted by law. If the attorney general
5 has reasonable belief that a person is in violation of an
6 injunction issued under the bill, the attorney general may
7 bring civil action to provide for civil penalties in an amount
8 not more than $100,000.
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