In New York law, Article 156 refers to offenses involving computers; definition of terms. If you have been charged with such an offense, you should contact a criminal defense attorney immediately.
The complete law is as follows:
Article 156: Offenses involving computers; definition of terms
156.00 Offenses involving computers; definition of terms.
156.05 Unauthorized use of a computer.
156.10 Computer trespass.
156.20 Computer tampering in the fourth degree.
156.25 Computer tampering in the third degree.
156.26 Computer tampering in the second degree.
156.27 Computer tampering in the first degree.
156.29 Unlawful duplication of computer related material in the second degree.
156.30 Unlawful duplication of computer related material in the first degree.
156.35 Criminal possession of computer related material.
156.50 Offenses involving computers; defenses.
NY PENAL LAW § 156.00
Offenses involving computers; definition of terms.
The following definitions are applicable to this chapter except where different meanings are expressly specified:
1. “Computer” means a device or group of devices which, by manipulation of electronic, magnetic, optical or electrochemical impulses, pursuant to a computer program, can automatically perform arithmetic, logical, storage or retrieval operations with or on computer data, and includes any connected or directly related device, equipment or facility which enables such computer to store, retrieve or communicate to or from a person, another computer or another device the results of computer operations, computer programs or computer data.
2. “Computer program” is property and means an ordered set of data representing coded instructions or statements that, when executed by computer, cause the computer to process data or direct the computer to perform one or more computer operations or both and may be in any form, including magnetic storage media, punched cards, or stored internally in the memory of the computer.
3. “Computer data” is property and means a representation of information, knowledge, facts, concepts or instructions which are being processed, or have been processed in a computer and may be in any form, including magnetic storage media, punched cards, or stored internally in the memory of the computer.
4. “Computer service” means any and all services provided by or through the facilities of any computer communication system allowing the input, output, examination, or transfer, of computer data or computer programs from one computer to another.
5. “Computer material” is property and means any computer data or computer program which:
(a) contains records of the medical history or medical treatment of an identified or readily identifiable individual or individuals. This term shall not apply to the gaining access to or duplication solely of the medical history or medical treatment records of a person by that person or by another specifically authorized by the person whose records are gained access to or duplicated; or
(b) contains records maintained by the state or any political subdivision thereof or any governmental instrumentality within the state which contains any information concerning a person, as defined in subdivision seven of section 10.00 of this chapter, which because of name, number, symbol, mark or other identifier, can be used to identify the person and which is otherwise prohibited by law from being disclosed. This term shall not apply to the gaining access to or duplication solely of records of a person by that person or by another specifically authorized by the person whose records are gained access to or duplicated; or
(c) is not and is not intended to be available to anyone other than the person or persons rightfully in possession thereof or selected persons having access thereto with his, her or their consent and which accords or may accord such rightful possessors an advantage over competitors or other persons who do not have knowledge or the benefit thereof.
6. “Computer network” means the interconnection of hardwire or wireless communication lines with a computer through remote terminals, or a complex consisting of two or more interconnected computers.
7. “Access” means to instruct, communicate with, store data in, retrieve from, or otherwise make use of any resources of a computer, physically, directly or by electronic means.
8. “Without authorization” means to use or to access a computer, computer service or computer network without the permission of the owner or lessor or someone licensed or privileged by the owner or lessor where such person knew that his or her use or access was without permission or after actual notice to such person that such use or access was without permission. It shall also mean the access of a computer service by a person without permission where such person knew that such access was without permission or after actual notice to such person, that such access was without permission. Proof that such person used or accessed a computer, computer service or computer network through the knowing use of a set of instructions, code or computer program that bypasses, defrauds or otherwise circumvents a security measure installed or used with the user’s authorization on the computer, computer service or computer network shall be presumptive evidence that such person used or accessed such computer, computer service or computer network without authorization.
9. “Felony” as used in this article means any felony defined in the laws of this state or any offense defined in the laws of any other jurisdiction for which a sentence to a term of imprisonment in excess of one year is authorized in this state.
NY PENAL LAW § 156.05
Unauthorized use of a computer.
A person is guilty of unauthorized use of a computer when he or she knowingly uses, causes to be used, or accesses a computer, computer service, or computer network without authorization.
Unauthorized use of a computer is a class A misdemeanor.
NY PENAL LAW § 156.10
Computer trespass.
A person is guilty of computer trespass when he or she knowingly uses, causes to be used, or accesses a computer, computer service, or computer network without authorization and:
1. he or she does so with an intent to commit or attempt to commit or further the commission of any felony; or
2. he or she thereby knowingly gains access to computer material.
Computer trespass is a class E felony.
NY PENAL LAW § 156.20
Computer tampering in the fourth degree.
A person is guilty of computer tampering in the fourth degree when he or she uses, causes to be used, or accesses a computer, computer service, or computer network without authorization and he or she intentionally alters in any manner or destroys computer data or a computer program of another person.
Computer tampering in the fourth degree is a class A misdemeanor.
NY PENAL LAW § 156.25
Computer tampering in the third degree.
A person is guilty of computer tampering in the third degree when he commits the crime of computer tampering in the fourth degree and:
1. he does so with an intent to commit or attempt to commit or further the commission of any felony; or
2. he has been previously convicted of any crime under this article or subdivision eleven of section 165.15 of this chapter; or
3. he intentionally alters in any manner or destroys computer material; or
4. he intentionally alters in any manner or destroys computer data or a computer program so as to cause damages in an aggregate amount exceeding one thousand dollars.
Computer tampering in the third degree is a class E felony.
NY PENAL LAW § 156.26
Computer tampering in the second degree.
A person is guilty of computer tampering in the second degree when he or she commits the crime of computer tampering in the fourth degree and he or she intentionally alters in any manner or destroys:
1. computer data or a computer program so as to cause damages in an aggregate amount exceeding three thousand dollars; or
2. computer material that contains records of the medical history or medical treatment of an identified or readily identifiable individual or individuals and as a result of such alteration or destruction, such individual or individuals suffer serious physical injury, and he or she is aware of and consciously disregards a substantial and unjustifiable risk that such serious physical injury may occur.
Computer tampering in the second degree is a class D felony.
NY PENAL LAW § 156.27
Computer tampering in the first degree.
A person is guilty of computer tampering in the first degree when he commits the crime of computer tampering in the fourth degree and he intentionally alters in any manner or destroys computer data or a computer program so as to cause damages in an aggregate amount exceeding fifty thousand dollars.
Computer tampering in the first degree is a class C felony.
NY PENAL LAW § 156.29
Unlawful duplication of computer related material in the second degree.
A person is guilty of unlawful duplication of computer related material in the second degree when having no right to do so, he or she copies, reproduces or duplicates in any manner computer material that contains records of the medical history or medical treatment of an identified or readily identifiable individual or individuals with an intent to commit or further the commission of any crime under this chapter.
Unlawful duplication of computer related material in the second degree is a class B misdemeanor.
NY PENAL LAW § 156.30
Unlawful duplication of computer related material in the first degree.
A person is guilty of unlawful duplication of computer related in the first degree material when having no right to do so, he or she copies, reproduces or duplicates in any manner:
1. any computer data or computer program and thereby intentionally and wrongfully deprives or appropriates from an owner thereof an economic value or benefit in excess of two thousand five hundred dollars; or
2. any computer data or computer program with an intent to commit or attempt to commit or further the commission of any felony.
Unlawful duplication of computer related material in the first degree is a class E felony.
NY PENAL LAW § 156.35
Criminal possession of computer related material.
A person is guilty of criminal possession of computer related material when having no right to do so, he knowingly possesses, in any form, any copy, reproduction or duplicate of any computer data or computer program which was copied, reproduced or duplicated in violation of section 156.30 of this article, with intent to benefit himself or a person other than an owner thereof.
Criminal possession of computer related material is a class E felony.
NY PENAL LAW § 156.50
Offenses involving computers; defenses.
In any prosecution:
1. under section 156.05 or 156.10 of this article, it shall be a defense that the defendant had reasonable grounds to believe that he had authorization to use the computer;
2. under section 156.20, 156.25, 156.26 or 156.27 of this article it shall be a defense that the defendant had reasonable grounds to believe that he had the right to alter in any manner or destroy the computer data or the computer program;
3. under section 156.29 or 156.30 of this article it shall be a defense that the defendant had reasonable grounds to believe that he had the right to copy, reproduce or duplicate in any manner the computer data or the computer program.
