Senate File 2269 - Introduced SENATE FILE 2269 BY REICHMAN A BILL FOR An Act relating to the use or creation of bots to purchase 1 event tickets on the internet, and providing civil 2 penalties. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 5918XS (2) 90 nls/ko
S.F. 2269 Section 1. NEW SECTION . 554H.1 Definitions. 1 As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise 2 requires: 3 1. Bot means an automated software program that performs 4 automatic and repetitive tasks and is designed to impersonate 5 or replicate human activity on the internet. Bot does not 6 include autofill or password management features built into 7 an internet browser or provided through separate internet 8 software. 9 2. Event means a concert, theatrical performance, sporting 10 event, exhibition, show, or similar scheduled activity that is 11 all of the following: 12 a. Open to the public. 13 b. Held in a public or private venue. 14 c. Requires payment of an admission fee to attend the event. 15 3. Ticket means a physical or electronic certificate, 16 voucher, document, token, or other evidence of a right for 17 admission to enter an event at one or more specified dates and 18 times. 19 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION . 554H.2 Internet ticket sales. 20 A person may not use or create a bot to do any of the 21 following: 22 1. Purchase tickets in excess of eight tickets, or the 23 posted limit if less than eight tickets, for any one internet 24 ticket sale. 25 2. Use multiple internet protocol addresses, purchaser 26 accounts, or electronic mail addresses to purchase tickets in 27 excess of eight tickets, or the posted limit if less than eight 28 tickets, for any one internet ticket sale. 29 3. Circumvent or disable an electronic queue, waiting 30 period, presale code, or other sales volume limitation system 31 associated with an internet ticket sale. 32 4. Circumvent or disable a security measure, access control 33 system, or other control or measure that is used to facilitate 34 authorized entry to an event. 35 -1- LSB 5918XS (2) 90 nls/ko 1/ 3
S.F. 2269 Sec. 3. NEW SECTION . 554H.3 Enforcement penalties. 1 1. If the attorney general has reasonable belief that a 2 person is in violation of this chapter, the attorney general 3 has the sole authority to bring civil action to provide for all 4 of the following: 5 a. Enjoinment of further violations by the person. 6 b. Enforcement of compliance with this chapter. 7 c. Assessment of civil penalties in an amount not more than 8 ten thousand dollars for each violation of this chapter. 9 d. Other remedies permitted under law. 10 2. If the attorney general has reasonable belief that a 11 person is in violation of an injunction issued under this 12 section, the attorney general has the sole authority to bring 13 civil action to provide for civil penalties in an amount not 14 more than one hundred thousand dollars. 15 EXPLANATION 16 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 17 the explanations substance by the members of the general assembly. 18 This bill relates to the use or creation of bots to purchase 19 event tickets during internet sales. Bot, event, and 20 ticket are defined by the bill. 21 The bill prohibits a person from creating or using a bot 22 to purchase tickets, or from using multiple internet protocol 23 addresses, purchaser accounts, or electronic mail addresses 24 to purchase tickets in excess of eight tickets, or the posted 25 limit if less than eight tickets, for any one internet ticket 26 sale. The bill also prohibits a person from creating or using 27 a bot to circumvent or disable an electronic queue, waiting 28 period, presale code, or other sales volume limitation system 29 that is associated with an internet ticket sale, or from 30 circumventing or disabling an access control system or other 31 control or measure that is used to facilitate authorized entry 32 to an event. 33 If the attorney general has reasonable belief that a person 34 is in violation of the bill, the attorney general may bring 35 -2- LSB 5918XS (2) 90 nls/ko 2/ 3
S.F. 2269 civil action to enjoin further violations by the person, 1 enforce compliance with the bill, assess a civil penalty 2 in an amount not more than $10,000 for each violation, and 3 other remedies permitted by law. If the attorney general 4 has reasonable belief that a person is in violation of an 5 injunction issued under the bill, the attorney general may 6 bring civil action to provide for civil penalties in an amount 7 not more than $100,000. 8 -3- LSB 5918XS (2) 90 nls/ko 3/ 3