25.24 - Automated ticket purchasing software.
§ 25.24. Automated ticket purchasing software. 1. The term "automated ticket purchasing software" shall mean, any machine, device, computer program or computer software that navigates or runs automated tasks on retail ticket purchasing websites in order to bypass security measures to purchase tickets. 2. It shall be unlawful for any person to utilize automated ticket purchasing software to purchase tickets. 3. Any person who knowingly utilizes automated ticket purchasing software in order to bypass security measures to purchase tickets shall be subject to a civil penalty in an amount of no less than five hundred dollars and no more than one thousand dollars for each such violation and shall forfeit all profits made from the sale of any such unlawfully obtained tickets. 4. Any person who intentionally maintains any interest in or maintains any control of the operation of automated ticket purchasing software to bypass security measures to purchase tickets shall be subject to a civil penalty in an amount of no less than seven hundred fifty dollars and no more than one thousand five hundred dollars for each such violation and shall forfeit all profits made from the sale of any such unlawfully obtained tickets. 5. Any person who is subject to a civil penalty under this section and has been assessed a penalty under this section in the previous five years shall be guilty of a violation and may be fined no less than one thousand dollars and no more than five thousand dollars for each such violation and shall forfeit all profits from the sale of any such unlawfully obtained tickets. In addition, a person convicted of a violation under this section may be required to forfeit any and all equipment used in the unlawful purchasing of tickets. 6. The attorney general shall have jurisdiction to enforce the provisions of this section in accordance with the powers granted to him or her by section sixty-three of the executive law. 7. In addition to the power given to the attorney general to enforce the provisions of this section, any place of entertainment, as defined by section 23.03 of this chapter, or any aggrieved party that has been injured by wrongful conduct prescribed by this section may bring an action to recover all actual damages suffered as a result of any of such wrongful conduct. The court in its discretion may award damages up to three times the amount of actual damages. The court may enjoin the respondent from any and all activity prohibited under this section. The court may also award reasonable attorney's fees and costs.