MD
Maryland House Bill HB208

Maryland 2025 Regular Session

Maryland House Bill HB208 Compare Versions

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1- WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 206
21
3-– 1 –
4-Chapter 206
5-(House Bill 208)
62
7-AN ACT concerning
3+EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
4+ [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
5+ Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
6+ Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
7+amendment.
8+ Italics indicate opposite chamber/conference committee amendments.
9+ *hb0208*
810
9-Consumer Protection – False Advertising – Digital Goods
11+HOUSE BILL 208
12+I3, S1 (5lr1358)
13+ENROLLED BILL
14+— Economic Matters/Finance —
15+Introduced by Delegate Fraser–Hidalgo Delegate Pruski
1016
11-FOR the purpose of prohibiting a certain person from advertising or offering for sale a
12-digital good using certain terminology or alongside an option for a time–limited
13-rental unless a certain acknowledgments are acknowledgment is received from the
14-purchaser and or a certain statements are statement is provided by the seller;
15-establishing that a person is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a certain
16-penalties penalty for a violation of this Act is an unfair, abusive, or deceptive trade
17-practice; and generally relating to the advertising and offering of digital goods for
18-sale.
17+Read and Examined by Proofreaders:
1918
20-BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
21- Article – Commercial Law
22-Section 13–301(14)(xlii) and 14–2901
23- Annotated Code of Maryland
24- (2013 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement)
19+_______________________________________________
20+Proofreader.
21+_______________________________________________
22+Proofreader.
2523
26-BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments,
27- Article – Commercial Law
28- Section 13–301(14)(xliii)
29- Annotated Code of Maryland
30- (2013 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement)
24+Sealed with the Great Seal and presented to the Governor, for his approval this
3125
32-BY adding to
33- Article – Commercial Law
34-Section 13–301(14)(xliv) and 14–2904
35- Annotated Code of Maryland
36- (2013 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement)
26+_______ day of _______________ at __ ______________________ o’clock, ________M.
3727
38- SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
39-That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
28+______________________________________________
29+Speaker.
4030
41-Article – Commercial Law
31+CHAPTER ______
4232
43-13–301.
33+AN ACT concerning 1
4434
45- Unfair, abusive, or deceptive trade practices include any:
35+Consumer Protection – False Advertising – Digital Goods 2
4636
47- (14) Violation of a provision of:
37+FOR the purpose of prohibiting a certain person from advertising or offering for sale a 3
38+digital good using certain terminology or alongside an option for a time–limited 4
39+rental unless a certain acknowledgments are acknowledgment is received from the 5
40+purchaser and or a certain statements are statement is provided by the seller; 6
41+establishing that a person is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a certain 7
42+penalties penalty for a violation of this Act is an unfair, abusive, or deceptive trade 8
43+practice; and generally relating to the advertising and offering of digital goods for 9
44+sale. 10
4845
49- (xlii) Section 12–6C–09.1 of the Health Occupations Article; [or] Ch. 206 2025 LAWS OF MARYLAND
46+BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 11
47+ Article – Commercial Law 12
48+Section 13–301(14)(xlii) and 14–2901 13
49+ Annotated Code of Maryland 14 2 HOUSE BILL 208
5050
51-– 2 –
5251
53- (xliii) Title 14, Subtitle 48 of this article; or
52+ (2013 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 1
5453
55- (XLIV) SECTION 14–2904 OF THIS ARTICLE; OR
54+BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 2
55+ Article – Commercial Law 3
56+ Section 13–301(14)(xliii) 4
57+ Annotated Code of Maryland 5
58+ (2013 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 6
5659
57-14–2901.
60+BY adding to 7
61+ Article – Commercial Law 8
62+Section 13–301(14)(xliv) and 14–2904 9
63+ Annotated Code of Maryland 10
64+ (2013 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 11
5865
59- (a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.
66+ SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 12
67+That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 13
6068
61- (b) “Advertise” means:
69+Article – Commercial Law 14
6270
63- (1) To publish, circulate, disseminate, or place before the public in any way
64-or through any medium for the purpose of selling merchandise; and
71+13–301. 15
6572
66- (2) Advertising by:
73+ Unfair, abusive, or deceptive trade practices include any: 16
6774
68- (i) Exterior or interior signs, including neon or other electrical signs;
75+ (14) Violation of a provision of: 17
6976
70- (ii) Radio, telephone, or television; and
77+ (xlii) Section 12–6C–09.1 of the Health Occupations Article; [or] 18
7178
72- (iii) Newspaper, magazine, book, notice, or any other method or
73-material.
79+ (xliii) Title 14, Subtitle 48 of this article; or 19
7480
75- (C) “CLEAR AND CONSPICUOUS ” MEANS IN A MANNER TH AT CLEARLY
76-CALLS ATTENTION TO T HE LANGUAGE, INCLUDING TEXT THAT IS:
81+ (XLIV) SECTION 14–2904 OF THIS ARTICLE; OR 20
7782
78- (1) IN LARGER TYPE THAN T HE SURROUNDING TEXT ;
83+14–2901. 21
7984
80- (2) IN A CONTRASTING TYPE , FONT, OR COLOR TO THE SURR OUNDING
81-TEXT; OR
85+ (a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 22
8286
83- (3) SET OFF FROM THE SURR OUNDING TEXT BY SYMB OLS OR OTHER
84-MARKS.
87+ (b) “Advertise” means: 23
8588
86- (D) “DIGITAL APPLICATION O R GAME” MEANS ANY APPLICATIO N OR GAME
87-THAT A PERSON ACCESS ES AND MANIPULATES U SING A SPECIALIZED E LECTRONIC
88-GAMING DEVICE , COMPUTER , MOBILE DEVICE , TABLET, OR OTHER DEVICE WITH A
89-DISPLAY SCREEN , INCLUDING ANY ADD –ONS OR ADDITIONAL CO NTENT FOR THE
90-APPLICATION OR GAME.
89+ (1) To publish, circulate, disseminate, or place before the public in any way 24
90+or through any medium for the purpose of selling merchandise; and 25
9191
92- (E) “DIGITAL AUDIO WORK ” MEANS A WORK THAT RE SULTS FROM THE
93-FIXATION OF A SERIES OF MUSICAL, SPOKEN, OR OTHER SOUNDS THAT ARE
94-TRANSFERRED ELECTRON ICALLY, INCLUDING:
92+ (2) Advertising by: 26
9593
96- (1) PRERECORDED OR LIVE S ONGS; WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 206
94+ (i) Exterior or interior signs, including neon or other electrical signs; 27
9795
98-– 3 –
96+ (ii) Radio, telephone, or television; and 28
97+ HOUSE BILL 208 3
9998
100- (2) MUSIC;
10199
102- (3) READINGS OF BOOKS OR OTHER WRITTEN MATERI ALS;
100+ (iii) Newspaper, magazine, book, notice, or any other method or 1
101+material. 2
103102
104- (4) SPEECHES;
103+ (C) “CLEAR AND CONSPICUOUS ” MEANS IN A MANNER TH AT CLEARLY 3
104+CALLS ATTENTION TO T HE LANGUAGE, INCLUDING TEXT THAT IS: 4
105105
106- (5) RINGTONES; OR
106+ (1) IN LARGER TYPE THAN T HE SURROUNDING TEXT ; 5
107107
108- (6) OTHER SOUND RECORDING S.
108+ (2) IN A CONTRASTING TYPE , FONT, OR COLOR TO THE SURR OUNDING 6
109+TEXT; OR 7
109110
110- (F) (1) “DIGITAL AUDIOVISUAL W ORK” MEANS A SERIES OF RE LATED
111-IMAGES THAT, WHEN SHOWN IN SUCCES SION, IMPART AN IMPRESSION OF MOTION,
112-TOGETHER WITH ACCOMP ANYING SOUNDS.
111+ (3) SET OFF FROM THE SURR OUNDING TEXT BY SYMB OLS OR OTHER 8
112+MARKS. 9
113113
114- (2) “DIGITAL AUDIOVISUAL W ORK” INCLUDES MOTION PICT URES,
115-MUSICALS, VIDEOS, NEWS AND ENTERTAINME NT PROGRAMS , AND LIVE EVENTS .
114+ (D) “DIGITAL APPLICATION O R GAME” MEANS ANY APPLICATIO N OR GAME 10
115+THAT A PERSON ACCESS ES AND MANIPULATES U SING A SPECIALIZED E LECTRONIC 11
116+GAMING DEVICE , COMPUTER , MOBILE DEVICE , TABLET, OR OTHER DEVICE WITH A 12
117+DISPLAY SCREEN , INCLUDING ANY ADD –ONS OR ADDITIONAL CO NTENT FOR THE 13
118+APPLICATION OR GAME. 14
116119
117- (G) “DIGITAL BOOK” MEANS A WORK THAT IS GENERALLY RECOGNIZED AS
118-A BOOK AND IS TRANSF ERRED ELECTRONICALLY , INCLUDING A WORK OF FICTION
119-OR NONFICTION .
120+ (E) “DIGITAL AUDIO WORK ” MEANS A WORK THAT RE SULTS FROM THE 15
121+FIXATION OF A SERIES OF MUSICAL, SPOKEN, OR OTHER SOUNDS THAT ARE 16
122+TRANSFERRED ELECTRON ICALLY, INCLUDING: 17
120123
121- (H) (1) “DIGITAL CODE” MEANS A CODE THAT GR ANTS THE PERSON
122-HOLDING THE CODE A R IGHT TO OBTAIN AN AD DITIONAL DIGITAL GOO D THAT MAY
123-BE OBTAINED BY ANY M EANS, INCLUDING TANGIBLE F ORMS AND ELECTRONIC MAIL,
124-REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE CODE IS DESIGNATED AS A SONG CODE, VIDEO
125-CODE, OR BOOK CODE .
124+ (1) PRERECORDED OR LIVE S ONGS; 18
126125
127- (2) “DIGITAL CODE” INCLUDES:
126+ (2) MUSIC; 19
128127
129- (I) A A CODE USED TO ACCESS OR OBTAIN ANY SPECIF IED
130-DIGITAL GOODS , OR ANY ADDITIONAL DI GITAL GOODS THAT HAV E BEEN
131-PREVIOUSLY PURCHASED ; AND
128+ (3) READINGS OF BOOKS OR OTHER WRITTEN MATERI ALS; 20
132129
133- (II) PROMOTION CARDS OR CO DES THAT ARE PURCHAS ED BY A
134-RETAILER OR OTHER BU SINESS ENTITY FOR US E BY THE RETAILER ’S OR ENTITY’S
135-CUSTOMERS .
130+ (4) SPEECHES; 21
136131
137- (I) (1) “DIGITAL GOOD ” MEANS A DIGITAL APPL ICATION OR GAME ,
138-DIGITAL AUDIO WORK , DIGITAL AUDIOVISUAL WORK, DIGITAL BOOK, OR DIGITAL
139-CODE, WHETHER ELECTRONICAL LY OR DIGITALLY DELI VERED OR ACCESSED .
140- Ch. 206 2025 LAWS OF MARYLAND
132+ (5) RINGTONES; OR 22
141133
142-– 4 –
143- (2) “DIGITAL GOOD ” DOES NOT INCLUDE A C ABLE TELEVISION
144-SERVICE, SATELLITE RELAY TELE VISION SERVICE, OR ANY OTHER DISTRIB UTION OF
145-TELEVISION, VIDEO, OR RADIO SERVICE .
134+ (6) OTHER SOUND RECORDING S. 23
146135
147- [(c)] (J) “Person” includes an association, firm, partnership, corporation, or an
148-agent or employee of any of these entities.
136+ (F) (1) “DIGITAL AUDIOVISUAL W ORK” MEANS A SERIES OF RE LATED 24
137+IMAGES THAT, WHEN SHOWN IN SUCCES SION, IMPART AN IMPRESSION OF MOTION, 25
138+TOGETHER WITH ACCOMPANYI NG SOUNDS. 26
149139
150- [(d)] (K) “Property”, as used in § 14–2902(a) through (c) of this subtitle, includes:
140+ (2) “DIGITAL AUDIOVISUAL W ORK” INCLUDES MOTION PICT URES, 27
141+MUSICALS, VIDEOS, NEWS AND ENTERTAINME NT PROGRAMS , AND LIVE EVENTS . 28
142+ 4 HOUSE BILL 208
151143
152- (1) Merchandise;
153144
154- (2) Real estate;
145+ (G) “DIGITAL BOOK” MEANS A WORK THAT IS GENERALLY RECOGNIZED AS 1
146+A BOOK AND IS TRANSF ERRED ELEC TRONICALLY, INCLUDING A WORK OF FICTION 2
147+OR NONFICTION . 3
155148
156- (3) Securities;
149+ (H) (1) “DIGITAL CODE” MEANS A CODE THAT GR ANTS THE PERSON 4
150+HOLDING THE CODE A R IGHT TO OBTAIN AN AD DITIONAL DIGITAL GOO D THAT MAY 5
151+BE OBTAINED BY ANY M EANS, INCLUDING TANGIBLE F ORMS AND ELECTRONIC MAIL, 6
152+REGARDLESS OF WHETHE R THE CODE IS DESIGN ATED AS A SONG CODE , VIDEO 7
153+CODE, OR BOOK CODE . 8
157154
158- (4) Employment;
155+ (2) “DIGITAL CODE” INCLUDES: 9
159156
160- (5) A loan made at interest;
157+ (I) A A CODE USED TO ACCESS OR OBTAIN ANY SPECIF IED 10
158+DIGITAL GOODS , OR ANY ADDITIONAL DI GITAL GOODS THAT HAV E BEEN 11
159+PREVIOUSLY P URCHASED; AND 12
161160
162- (6) Any contract relating to real estate, securities, service, employment, or
163-the making of loans at interest; or
161+ (II) PROMOTION CARDS OR CO DES THAT ARE PURCHAS ED BY A 13
162+RETAILER OR OTHER BU SINESS ENTITY FOR US E BY THE RETAILER ’S OR ENTITY’S 14
163+CUSTOMERS . 15
164164
165- (7) Anything else of value.
165+ (I) (1) “DIGITAL GOOD ” MEANS A DIGITAL APPL ICATION OR GAME , 16
166+DIGITAL AUDIO WORK , DIGITAL AUDIOVISUAL WORK , DIGITAL BOOK, OR DIGITAL 17
167+CODE, WHETHER ELECTRONICAL LY OR DIGITALLY DELI VERED OR ACCESSED . 18
166168
167-14–2904.
169+ (2) “DIGITAL GOOD ” DOES NOT INCLUDE A C ABLE TELEVISION 19
170+SERVICE, SATELLITE RELAY TELE VISION SERVICE, OR ANY OTHER DISTRIB UTION OF 20
171+TELEVISION, VIDEO, OR RADIO SERVICE . 21
168172
169- (A) A PERSON THAT IS A SELLER MAY NOT ADVERTISE OR OFFER FOR SALE
170-A DIGITAL GOOD USING TERMINOLOGY THAT A R EASONABLE PERSON WOU LD
171-UNDERSTAND TO CONFER AN UNRESTRICTED OWNE RSHIP INTEREST IN TH E
172-DIGITAL GOOD, UNLESS, AT THE TIME OF BEFORE EXECUTING THE SALE:
173+ [(c)] (J) “Person” includes an association, firm, partnership, corporation, or an 22
174+agent or employee of any of these entities. 23
173175
174- (1) THE SELLER RECEIVES A N AFFIRMATIVE ACKNOWLE DGMENT
175-FROM THE PURCHASER O F THE FOLLOWING :
176+ [(d)] (K) “Property”, as used in § 14–2902(a) through (c) of this subtitle, includes: 24
176177
177- (I) THAT THE PURCHASER IS RECEIVING A LICENSE TO ACCESS
178-A DIGITAL GOOD;
178+ (1) Merchandise; 25
179179
180- (II) A COMPLETE LIST OF RES TRICTIONS AND CONDIT IONS OF
181-THE LICENSE; AND
180+ (2) Real estate; 26
182181
183- (III) THAT ACCESS TO THE DI GITAL GO OD MAY BE
184-UNILATERALLY REVOKED BY THE SELLER IF THE PURCHASER NO LONGER HOLDS A
185-RIGHT TO THE DIGITAL GOOD; AND OR
186- WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 206
182+ (3) Securities; 27
187183
188-– 5 –
189- (2) THE SELLER PROVIDES T O THE PURCHASER A CL EAR AND
190-CONSPICUOUS STATEMEN T THAT:
184+ (4) Employment; 28
191185
192- (I) STATES IN PLAIN LANGU AGE THAT THE PURCHAS ER IS
193-BUYING A LICENSE FOR THE DIGITAL GOOD ; AND
186+ (5) A loan made at interest; 29
194187
195- (II) INCLUDES A DIGITAL ME THOD TO ACCESS THE L ICENSE
196-DETAILS, TERMS, AND CONDITIONS .
188+ (6) Any contract relating to real estate, securities, service, employment, or 30
189+the making of loans at interest; or 31 HOUSE BILL 208 5
197190
198- (B) A PERSON MAY NOT ADVER TISE OR OFFER FOR SA LE A DIGITAL GOOD
199-ALONGSIDE AN OPTION FOR A TIME–LIMITED RENTAL , UNLESS, AT THE TIME OF
200-SALE:
201191
202- (1) THE SELLER RECEIVES A N AFFIRMATIVE ACKNOW LEDGMENT
203-FROM THE PURCHASER O F THE FOLLOWING :
204192
205- (I) THAT THE PURCHASER IS RECEIVING A LICENSE TO ACCESS
206-A DIGITAL GOOD;
193+ (7) Anything else of value. 1
207194
208- (II) A COMPLETE LIST OF RES TRICTIONS AND CONDIT IONS OF
209-THE LICENSE; AND
195+14–2904. 2
210196
211- (III) THAT ACCESS TO THE DI GITAL GOOD MAY BE
212-UNILATERALLY REVOKED BY THE SELLER IF THE PURCHASER NO LONGER HOLDS A
213-RIGHT TO THE DIGITAL GOOD; AND
197+ (A) A PERSON THAT IS A SELLER MAY NOT ADVERTISE OR OFFER FOR SALE 3
198+A DIGITAL GOOD USING TERMINOLOGY THAT A R EASONABLE PERSON WOU LD 4
199+UNDERSTAND TO CONFER AN UNRESTRICTED OWNE RSHIP INTEREST IN TH E 5
200+DIGITAL GOOD, UNLESS, AT THE TIME OF BEFORE EXECUTING THE SALE: 6
214201
215- (2) THE SELLER PROVIDES T O THE PURCHASER A CL EAR AND
216-CONSPICUOUS STATEMEN T THAT:
202+ (1) THE SELLER RECEIVES A N AFFIRMATIVE ACKNOW LEDGMENT 7
203+FROM THE PURCHASER O F THE FOLLOWING : 8
217204
218- (I) STATES IN PLAIN LANGU AGE THAT THE PURCHAS ER IS
219-BUYING A LICENSE FOR THE DIGITAL GOOD ; AND
205+ (I) THAT THE PURCHASER IS RECEIVING A LICENSE TO ACCESS 9
206+A DIGITAL GOOD; 10
220207
221- (II) INCLUDES A DIGITAL ME THOD TO ACCESS THE L ICENSE
222-DETAILS, TERMS, AND CONDITIONS .
208+ (II) A COMPLETE LIST OF RES TRICTIONS AND CONDIT IONS OF 11
209+THE LICENSE; AND 12
223210
224- (C) (B) THE AFFIRMATIVE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENT
225-REQUIRED UNDER SUBSECTIONS SUBSECTION (A)(1) AND (B)(1) OF THIS SECTION
226-SHALL BE DISTINCT AN D SEPARATE FROM ANY OTHER STATEMENT THAT THE
227-PURCHASER ACKNOWLEDG ES.
211+ (III) THAT ACCESS TO THE DI GITAL GOOD MAY BE 13
212+UNILATERALLY REVOKED BY THE SELLER IF THE PURCHASER NO LONGER HOLDS A 14
213+RIGHT TO THE DIGITAL GOOD; AND OR 15
228214
229- (D) (C) THE CLEAR AND CONSPIC UOUS STATEMENTS STATEMENT
230-REQUIRED UNDER SUBSECTIONS SUBSECTION (A)(2) AND (B)(2) OF THIS SECTION
231-SHALL BE DISTINCT AN D SEPARATE FROM ANY OTHER STATEMENTS , DETAILS,
232-TERMS, OR CONDITIONS . Ch. 206 2025 LAWS OF MARYLAND
215+ (2) THE SELLER PROVIDES T O THE PURCHASER A CL EAR AND 16
216+CONSPICUOUS STATEMEN T THAT: 17
233217
234-– 6 –
218+ (I) STATES IN PLAIN LANGUAGE THAT THE PU RCHASER IS 18
219+BUYING A LICENSE FOR THE DIGITAL GOOD ; AND 19
235220
236- (E) (D) THIS SECTION DOES NOT :
221+ (II) INCLUDES A DIGITAL ME THOD TO ACCESS THE L ICENSE 20
222+DETAILS, TERMS, AND CONDITIONS . 21
237223
238- (1) REQUIRE A PERSON TO D OWNLOAD A DIGITAL GO OD; OR
224+ (B) A PERSON MAY NOT ADVER TISE OR OFFER FOR SA LE A DIGITAL GOOD 22
225+ALONGSIDE AN OPTION FOR A TIME–LIMITED RENTAL , UNLESS, AT THE TIME OF 23
226+SALE: 24
239227
240- (2) PROHIBIT A PERSON FRO M STORING A DIGITAL GOOD ON A
241-SERVER THAT CAN BE AC CESSED THROUGH THE INTERNET.
228+ (1) THE SELLER RECEIVES A N AFFIRMATIVE ACKNOW LEDGMENT 25
229+FROM THE PURCHASER O F THE FOLLOWING : 26
242230
243- (F) (E) THIS SECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO A PERSON WH O ADVERTISES
244-OR OFFERS FOR SALE :
231+ (I) THAT THE PURCHASER IS RECEIVING A LICENSE TO ACCESS 27
232+A DIGITAL GOOD; 28
245233
246- (1) A SUBSCRIPTION –BASED SERVICE THAT P ROVIDES ACCESS TO A
247-DIGITAL GOOD ONLY FO R THE DURATION OF TH E SUBSCRIPTION ;
234+ (II) A COMPLETE LIST OF RES TRICTIONS AND CONDITIONS O F 29
235+THE LICENSE; AND 30 6 HOUSE BILL 208
248236
249- (2) ACCESS TO A DIGITAL G OOD WITHOUT THE REQU IREMENT FOR
250-MONETARY CONSIDERATI ON; OR
251237
252- (3) A DIGITAL GOOD FOR WHI CH THE SELLER IS UNA BLE TO REVOKE
253-ACCESS AFTER COMPLET ION OF THE SALE, INCLUDING A DIGITAL GOOD THAT IS, AT
254-THE TIME OF PURCHASE , AVAILABLE FOR PERMANENT OFFLIN E DOWNLOAD TO AN
255-EXTERNAL STORAGE SOU RCE TO BE USED WITHO UT A CONNECTION TO T HE
256-INTERNET.
257238
258- (G) (F) A PERSON WHO VIOLATES THIS SECTION IS GUIL TY OF A
259-MISDEMEANOR AND ON C ONVICTION IS SUBJECT TO A FINE NOT EXCEED ING $1,000
260-VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION IS:
239+ (III) THAT ACCESS TO THE DI GITAL GOOD MAY BE 1
240+UNILATERALLY REVOKED BY THE SELLER IF THE PURCHASER NO LONGER HOLDS A 2
241+RIGHT TO THE DIGITAL GOOD; AND 3
261242
262- (1) AN UNFAIR, ABUSIVE, OR DECEPTIVE TRADE P RACTICE WITHIN
263-THE MEANING OF TITLE 13 OF THIS ARTICLE; AND
243+ (2) THE SELLER PROVIDES T O THE PURCHASER A CL EAR AND 4
244+CONSPICUOUS STATEMENT THAT : 5
264245
265- (2) SUBJECT TO THE ENFORC EMENT AND PENALTY PR OVISIONS
266-CONTAINED IN TITLE 13 OF THIS ARTICLE, EXCEPT §§ 13–408 AND 13–411 OF THIS
267-ARTICLE OR IMPRISONMENT NOT EXC EEDING 1 YEAR OR BOTH.
246+ (I) STATES IN PLAIN LANGU AGE THAT THE PURCHAS ER IS 6
247+BUYING A LICENSE FOR THE DIGITAL GOOD ; AND 7
268248
269- SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
270-October 1, 2025.
249+ (II) INCLUDES A DIGITAL ME THOD TO ACCESS THE L ICENSE 8
250+DETAILS, TERMS, AND CONDITIONS . 9
271251
272-Approved by the Governor, April 22, 2025.
252+ (C) (B) THE AFFIRMATIVE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENT 10
253+REQUIRED UNDER SUBSECTIONS SUBSECTION (A)(1) AND (B)(1) OF THIS SECTION 11
254+SHALL BE DISTINCT AN D SEPARATE FROM ANY OTHER STATEMENT THAT THE 12
255+PURCHASER ACKNOWLEDG ES. 13
256+
257+ (D) (C) THE CLEAR AND CONSPIC UOUS STATEMENTS STATEMENT 14
258+REQUIRED UNDER SUBSECTIONS SUBSECTION (A)(2) AND (B)(2) OF THIS SECTION 15
259+SHALL BE DISTINCT AN D SEPARATE FROM ANY OTHER STATEMENTS , DETAILS, 16
260+TERMS, OR CONDITIONS . 17
261+
262+ (E) (D) THIS SECTION DOES NOT : 18
263+
264+ (1) REQUIRE A PERSON TO D OWNLOAD A DIGITAL GO OD; OR 19
265+
266+ (2) PROHIBIT A P ERSON FROM STORING A DIGITAL GOOD ON A 20
267+SERVER THAT CAN BE A CCESSED THROUGH THE INTERNET. 21
268+
269+ (F) (E) THIS SECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO A PERSON WH O ADVERTISES 22
270+OR OFFERS FOR SALE : 23
271+
272+ (1) A SUBSCRIPTION –BASED SERVICE THAT P ROVIDES ACCESS TO A 24
273+DIGITAL GOOD ONLY F OR THE DURATION OF T HE SUBSCRIPTION ; 25
274+
275+ (2) ACCESS TO A DIGITAL G OOD WITHOUT THE REQU IREMENT FOR 26
276+MONETARY CONSIDERATI ON; OR 27
277+
278+ (3) A DIGITAL GOOD FOR WHI CH THE SELLER IS UNA BLE TO REVOKE 28
279+ACCESS AFTER COMPLET ION OF THE SALE, INCLUDING A DIGITAL GOOD THAT IS, AT 29
280+THE TIME OF PURCHASE , AVAILABLE FOR PERMAN ENT OFFLINE DOWNLOAD TO AN 30 HOUSE BILL 208 7
281+
282+
283+EXTERNAL STORAGE SOU RCE TO BE USED WITHO UT A CONNECTION TO T HE 1
284+INTERNET. 2
285+
286+ (G) (F) A PERSON WHO VIOLATES THIS SECTION IS GUIL TY OF A 3
287+MISDEMEANOR AND ON C ONVICTION IS SUBJECT TO A FINE NOT EXCEEDING $1,000 4
288+VIOLATION OF THIS SE CTION IS: 5
289+
290+ (1) AN UNFAIR, ABUSIVE, OR DECEPTIVE TRADE P RACTICE WITHIN 6
291+THE MEANING OF TITLE 13 OF THIS ARTICLE; AND 7
292+
293+ (2) SUBJECT TO THE ENFORC EMENT AND PENALTY PR OVISIONS 8
294+CONTAINED IN TITLE 13 OF THIS ARTICLE, EXCEPT §§ 13–408 AND 13–411 OF THIS 9
295+ARTICLE OR IMPRISONMENT NOT EXC EEDING 1 YEAR OR BOTH. 10
296+
297+ SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 11
298+October 1, 2025. 12
299+
300+
301+
302+
303+Approved:
304+________________________________________________________________________________
305+ Governor.
306+________________________________________________________________________________
307+ Speaker of the House of Delegates.
308+________________________________________________________________________________
309+ President of the Senate.