{"jurisdiction": "us-ny", "code": "penal", "section": "156.50", "citation": "Penal Law § 156.50", "heading": "Offenses involving computers; defenses", "text": ["§ 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."], "official_source": "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/156.50", "from_official_api": true, "plain_english": "These computer-crime defenses apply when the defendant had reasonable grounds to believe:\n- **(1)** for §§ 156.05 or 156.10, that the defendant **was authorized to use the computer**;\n- **(2)** for §§ 156.20, 156.25, 156.26, or 156.27, that the defendant **had the right to alter or destroy the data or program**; or\n- **(3)** for §§ 156.29 or 156.30, that the defendant **had the right to copy, reproduce, or duplicate the data or program**. ★", "in_force_on": "2026-05-31", "retrieved": "2026-09-27", "url": "https://elyphived.com/us-ny/penal/156.50", "publisher": "Elyphived LLC"}