103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB5590

 

Introduced 2/9/2024, by Rep. Hoan Huynh

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act

    Creates the Prohibition on Automated Online Ticket Purchasing Act. Provides that a person may not use or create any automated software program that performs automatic and repetitive tasks and is designed to impersonate or replicate human activity online to: (1) purchase tickets in excess of posted limits for an online ticket sale; (2) use multiple Internet protocol addresses, multiple purchaser accounts, or multiple e-mail addresses to purchase tickets in excess of posted limits for an online ticket sale; (3) circumvent or disable an electronic queue, waiting period, presale code, or other sales volume limitation system associated with an online ticket sale; or (4) circumvent or disable a security measure, access control system, or other control or measure that is used to facilitate authorized entry to an event. Provides that the Attorney General may seek injunctive relief in response to violations of the Act. Provides for civil penalties for violations of the Act.


LRB103 38928 SPS 69065 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB5590LRB103 38928 SPS 69065 b

1    AN ACT concerning business.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5Prohibition on Automated Online Ticket Purchasing Act.
 
6    Section 5. Definitions. As used in this Act:
7    "Bot" means any automated software program that performs
8automatic and repetitive tasks and is designed to impersonate
9or replicate human activity online. "Bot" does not include
10auto fill or password management features built into an
11Internet browser or provided through separate software.
12    "Event" means a concert, theatrical performance, sporting
13event, exhibition, show, or similar scheduled activity that:
14        (1) is open to the public;
15        (2) is held in a public or private venue; and
16        (3) requires payment of an admission fee to attend the
17    activity.
18    "Ticket" means a physical or electronic certificate,
19voucher, document, token, or other evidence of a right for
20admission to enter a place of entertainment for one or more
21events at one or more specified dates and times.
 
22    Section 10. Prohibition on automated online ticket

 

 

HB5590- 2 -LRB103 38928 SPS 69065 b

1purchasing. A person may not use or create a bot to:
2        (1) purchase tickets in excess of posted limits for an
3    online ticket sale;
4        (2) use multiple Internet protocol addresses, multiple
5    purchaser accounts, or multiple e-mail addresses to
6    purchase tickets in excess of posted limits for an online
7    ticket sale;
8        (3) circumvent or disable an electronic queue, waiting
9    period, presale code, or other sales volume limitation
10    system associated with an online ticket sale; or
11        (4) circumvent or disable a security measure, access
12    control system, or other control or measure that is used
13    to facilitate authorized entry to an event.
 
14    Section 15. Enforcement by Attorney General.
15    (a) The Attorney General may investigate a claim that a
16person violated this Act.
17    (b) If the Attorney General concludes that a person is
18violating this Act, the Attorney General may bring an action
19in the name of the People of the State to restrain or enjoin
20the person from violating this Act.
21    (c) In addition to bringing an action for injunctive
22relief under this Act, the Attorney General may seek
23restitution and petition a circuit court for the assessment of
24a civil penalty as provided by this Section.
25    (d) A person who knowingly violates Section 10 is liable

 

 

HB5590- 3 -LRB103 38928 SPS 69065 b

1for a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 for each
2violation.
3    (e) Every ticket transaction in which a ticket is acquired
4to be sold in violation of Section 10 constitutes a separate
5violation for purposes of assessing a civil penalty.
6    (f) The civil penalty for a violation of a court order or
7injunction issued to enforce this Act may not exceed $100,000.
8    (g) The Attorney General may recover all reasonable costs
9of bringing an action under this Section, including court
10costs, reasonable attorneys' fees, and investigation costs.