US Lawyer Database

    (a)    (1)    In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

        (2)    “Protected individual” means an individual who buys, rents, or borrows a videotape, video disk, or film from a videotape distributor.

        (3)    “Publish” means to distribute to a person other than the protected individual or an agent of the protected individual.

        (4)    “Videotape distributor” means a retail establishment operating for profit that sells, rents, or loans videotapes, video disks, or films.

    (b)    Except as provided in subsection (d) of this section, a videotape distributor, or an agent or employee of a videotape distributor, may not publish the following information relating to sales, rentals, or loans of videotapes, video disks, or films to a protected individual:

        (1)    any numerical designation used by the videotape distributor to identify the protected individual; or

        (2)    any listing of videotapes, video disks, or films bought, rented, or borrowed by the protected individual from the videotape distributor.

    (c)    A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 6 months for all violations or a fine not exceeding $500 for each violation or both.

    (d)    This section does not prohibit the distribution of information protected under subsection (b) of this section to:

        (1)    a person designated by the videotape distributor and authorized by the protected individual before distribution to receive the information;

        (2)    any appropriately authorized law enforcement personnel; or

        (3)    a collection agency used or person designated by the videotape distributor to collect unreturned rental videotapes, video disks, or films, or an amount equal to their value.