Missouri SB 1050: Prohibits a website operator from intentionally using an internet domain name in a ticket website’s URL that contains certain information

Bill Text

SECOND REGULAR SESSION
SENATE BILL NO. 1050
100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR WILLIAMS.
Read 1st time February 26, 2020, and ordered printed.
ADRIANE D. CROUSE, Secretary.
5110S.01I
AN ACT
To amend chapter 316, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to internet
domain names of website operators, with penalty provisions.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 316, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section,
2 to be known as section 316.130, to read as follows:
316.130. 1. As used in this section, the following terms mean:
2 (1) "Internet domain name", a globally unique, hierarchical
3 reference to an internet host or service, which is assigned through
4 centralized internet naming authorities and which is comprised of a
5 series of character strings separated by periods, with the right-most
6 string specifying the top of the hierarchy;
7 (2) "Ticket website", a website advertising the sale of tickets,
8 offering the sale of tickets, or offering tickets for resale;
9 (3) "URL", a website's uniform resource locator;
10 (4) "Venue", an arena, stadium, theater, concert hall, or other
11 place of exhibition or performance;
12 (5) "Website operator", a person owning, operating, or controlling
13 a ticket website for an event scheduled at a venue.
14 2. Except as provided in subsection 3 of this section, a website
15 operator shall not intentionally use an internet domain name in a
16 ticket website's URL that contains any of the following:
17 (1) The name of the venue;
18 (2) The name of an exhibition or performance, including the
19 name of an artist scheduled to perform at the venue or an event
20 scheduled at the venue; or
21 (3) Any name substantially similar to those in subdivision (1) or

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22 (2) of this subsection.
23 3. This section shall not apply to a website operator who is
24 authorized by the venue to act on its behalf.
25 4. The attorney general may file a civil action for injunctive
26 relief against any website operator who has violated this section. The
27 court may award court costs and reasonable attorney's fees to the
28 prevailing party. The court may also impose a civil penalty not to
29 exceed two thousand five hundred dollars for each violation.
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