Relating to the use or creation of bots to purchase event tickets on the internet, and providing civil penalties

This bill relates to the use or creation of bots to purchase event tickets during internet sales. “Bot”, “event”, and “ticket” are defined by the bill. The bill prohibits a person from creating or using a bot to purchase tickets, or from using multiple internet protocol addresses, purchaser accounts, or electronic mail addresses to purchase tickets in excess of the posted limit for any one internet ticket sale. The bill also prohibits a person from creating or using a bot to circumvent or disable an electronic queue, waiting period, presale code, or other sales volume limitation system that is associated with an internet ticket sale, or from circumventing or disabling an access control system or other control or measure that is used to facilitate authorized entry to an event. The bill requires a ticket seller to report known violations of the bill’s provisions within five calendar days of becoming aware of the violation. Other individuals that have knowledge of a violation of the bill’s provisions may report the violation to the attorney general. The bill requires the attorney general to establish an electronic reporting system for the submission of reports. If the attorney general has reasonable belief that a person is in violation of the bill, the attorney general may bring civil action to enjoin further violations by the person, enforce compliance with the bill, assess a civil penalty in an amount not more than $10,000 for each violation, and other remedies permitted by law. If the attorney general has reasonable belief that a person is in violation of an injunction issued under the bill, the attorney general may bring civil action to provide for civil penalties in an amount not more than $100,000.