Senate bill · S8952 (2025-26)
Relates to disclosures by sellers of digital goods
New York State Senate
Same as A8471, the matching bill in the Assembly.
Summary
Prohibits a seller of a digital good from advertising or offering for sale a digital good to a purchaser with the terms "buy," "purchase," or any other term which a reasonable person would understand to confer an unrestricted ownership interest in the digital good, or alongside an option for a time-limited rental, unless the seller receives at the time of each transaction an affirmative acknowledgment from the purchaser, or the seller provides to the consumer before executing each transaction a clear and conspicuous statement.
Summary from NY Open Legislation. How we handle summaries
Amends the General Business Law.
From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Oct 20, 2026. About our data
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Purpose, from the sponsor's memo
To ensure that consumers are clearly informed when they are purchasing a license to access digital goods rather than acquiring full ownership, by mandating specific disclosures in advertisements and sales of such goods.
Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)
Where it stands
Out of committee and scheduled for a vote by the full chamber.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Up for a vote
- Passed one chamber
- Passed
- Enacted
Committee
Consumer Affairs and Protection · New York State Assembly
Also referred to Consumer Protection · New York State Senate.
The sponsor's argument
Why Patricia Fahy says this is needed
This bill ensures that New York consumers are clearly informed when purchasing digital goods-such as ebooks, music, or video games-that they are receiving a limited license, not full ownership. Currently, sellers can use terms like "buy" or "purchase" even when they retain the right to revoke access. This common but misleading practice leaves consumers confused and vulnerable when digital products they believed they owned are suddenly removed or restricted. The bill requires sellers who use ownership language to either obtain clear acknowledgment from the buyer that the transaction is a license, or provide a conspicuous notice before purchase explaining that access is limited and subject to terms. Disclosures must be plainly stated and separate from general terms and conditions. The bill exempts subscriptions, free digital goods, and permanently downloadable content. A similar law was recently adopted in California, setting a national precedent for transparency in digital transactions. New York should follow suit to protect its residents from deceptive advertising prac- tices and ensure fair treatment in the digital marketplace.
This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.
Full history
- May 20, 2026
Reported out of committee
REPORTED REFERRED TO RULES
NY Assembly
- May 5, 2026
Reported out of committee
REPORTED REFERRED TO CODES
NY Assembly
- Jan 21, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CONSUMER PROTECTION
NY Senate
- Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND PROTECTION
NY Assembly
- May 16, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND PROTECTION
NY Assembly