{ "batch": "6717-new-york-obscenity-and-distribution", "articles": [ { "id": "learn_r6717_new_york_obscenity_and_distribution_new_york_6717_c1", "category": "Safety", "title": "New York: anchor", "summary": "New York's official statute site publishes the Penal Law as Chapter 40 of the Consolidated Laws; Article 235 is 'Obscenity and related offenses' (sections 235.00-235.24).", "body": "New York's official statute site publishes the Penal Law as Chapter 40 of the Consolidated Laws; Article 235 is 'Obscenity and related offenses' (sections 235.00-235.24).\n\nWhat New York State Senate (Consolidated Laws of New York) actually says:\n\n“CHAPTER 40 OF THE CONSOLIDATED LAWS PENAL LAW”\n\nNote: Claude session research 2026-10-23 (web search + fetch of the official page); quote re-checked by the verify gate", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN", "last_verified": "2026-10-23", "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "New York State Senate (Consolidated Laws of New York)", "evidence_quote": "CHAPTER 40 OF THE CONSOLIDATED LAWS PENAL LAW", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "6717-new-york-obscenity-and-distribution", "subject": "New York", "topic": "anchor", "applies_to_country": "US", "applies_to_scope": "NY", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "us-ny" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r6717_new_york_obscenity_and_distribution_new_york_6717_c2", "category": "Safety", "title": "New York: obscenity definition", "summary": "Penal Law 235.00(1)(a) applies the average-person, contemporary-community-standards prurient-interest test.", "body": "Penal Law 235.00(1)(a) applies the average-person, contemporary-community-standards prurient-interest test.\n\nWhat New York State Senate (Consolidated Laws of New York) actually says:\n\n“average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find”\n\nNote: Claude session research 2026-10-23 (web search + fetch of the official page); quote re-checked by the verify gate", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/235.00", "last_verified": "2026-10-23", "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "New York State Senate (Consolidated Laws of New York)", "evidence_quote": "average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "6717-new-york-obscenity-and-distribution", "subject": "New York", "topic": "obscenity definition", "applies_to_country": "US", "applies_to_scope": "NY", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "us-ny" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r6717_new_york_obscenity_and_distribution_new_york_6717_c3", "category": "Safety", "title": "New York: obscenity definition - value prong", "summary": "Penal Law 235.00(1)(c) requires that the material, considered as a whole, lack serious literary, artistic, political, and scientific value.", "body": "Penal Law 235.00(1)(c) requires that the material, considered as a whole, lack serious literary, artistic, political, and scientific value.\n\nWhat New York State Senate (Consolidated Laws of New York) actually says:\n\n“considered as a whole, it lacks serious literary, artistic, political,”\n\nNote: Claude session research 2026-10-23 (web search + fetch of the official page); quote re-checked by the verify gate", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/235.00", "last_verified": "2026-10-23", "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "New York State Senate (Consolidated Laws of New York)", "evidence_quote": "considered as a whole, it lacks serious literary, artistic, political,", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "6717-new-york-obscenity-and-distribution", "subject": "New York", "topic": "obscenity definition - value prong", "applies_to_country": "US", "applies_to_scope": "NY", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "us-ny" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r6717_new_york_obscenity_and_distribution_new_york_6717_c4", "category": "Safety", "title": "New York: promote (distribution/sale) definition", "summary": "Penal Law 235.00(4) defines 'promote' to include selling, mailing, transmitting, publishing and distributing, which reaches sales in any medium.", "body": "Penal Law 235.00(4) defines 'promote' to include selling, mailing, transmitting, publishing and distributing, which reaches sales in any medium.\n\nWhat New York State Senate (Consolidated Laws of New York) actually says:\n\n“\"Promote\" means to manufacture, issue, sell, give, provide, lend,”\n\nNote: Claude session research 2026-10-23 (web search + fetch of the official page); quote re-checked by the verify gate", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/235.00", "last_verified": "2026-10-23", "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "New York State Senate (Consolidated Laws of New York)", "evidence_quote": "\"Promote\" means to manufacture, issue, sell, give, provide, lend,", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "6717-new-york-obscenity-and-distribution", "subject": "New York", "topic": "promote (distribution/sale) definition", "applies_to_country": "US", "applies_to_scope": "NY", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "us-ny" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r6717_new_york_obscenity_and_distribution_new_york_6717_c5", "category": "Safety", "title": "New York: distribution offense", "summary": "Penal Law 235.05(1): obscenity in the third degree is knowingly promoting or possessing with intent to promote obscene material.", "body": "Penal Law 235.05(1): obscenity in the third degree is knowingly promoting or possessing with intent to promote obscene material.\n\nWhat New York State Senate (Consolidated Laws of New York) actually says:\n\n“Promotes, or possesses with intent to promote, any obscene”\n\nNote: Claude session research 2026-10-23 (web search + fetch of the official page); quote re-checked by the verify gate", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/235.05", "last_verified": "2026-10-23", "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "New York State Senate (Consolidated Laws of New York)", "evidence_quote": "Promotes, or possesses with intent to promote, any obscene", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "6717-new-york-obscenity-and-distribution", "subject": "New York", "topic": "distribution offense", "applies_to_country": "US", "applies_to_scope": "NY", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "us-ny" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r6717_new_york_obscenity_and_distribution_new_york_6717_c6", "category": "Safety", "title": "New York: penalty - 3rd degree", "summary": "Obscenity in the third degree (Penal Law 235.05) is a class A misdemeanor.", "body": "Obscenity in the third degree (Penal Law 235.05) is a class A misdemeanor.\n\nWhat New York State Senate (Consolidated Laws of New York) actually says:\n\n“Obscenity in the third degree is a class A misdemeanor.”\n\nNote: Claude session research 2026-10-23 (web search + fetch of the official page); quote re-checked by the verify gate", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/235.05", "last_verified": "2026-10-23", "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "New York State Senate (Consolidated Laws of New York)", "evidence_quote": "Obscenity in the third degree is a class A misdemeanor.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "6717-new-york-obscenity-and-distribution", "subject": "New York", "topic": "penalty - 3rd degree", "applies_to_country": "US", "applies_to_scope": "NY", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "us-ny" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r6717_new_york_obscenity_and_distribution_new_york_6717_c7", "category": "Safety", "title": "New York: penalty - 2nd degree", "summary": "Obscenity in the second degree (Penal Law 235.06, repeat offense) is a class E felony.", "body": "Obscenity in the second degree (Penal Law 235.06, repeat offense) is a class E felony.\n\nWhat New York State Senate (Consolidated Laws of New York) actually says:\n\n“Obscenity in the second degree is a class E felony.”\n\nNote: Claude session research 2026-10-23 (web search + fetch of the official page); quote re-checked by the verify gate", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/235.06", "last_verified": "2026-10-23", "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "New York State Senate (Consolidated Laws of New York)", "evidence_quote": "Obscenity in the second degree is a class E felony.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "6717-new-york-obscenity-and-distribution", "subject": "New York", "topic": "penalty - 2nd degree", "applies_to_country": "US", "applies_to_scope": "NY", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "us-ny" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r6717_new_york_obscenity_and_distribution_new_york_6717_c8", "category": "Safety", "title": "New York: penalty - 1st degree", "summary": "Obscenity in the first degree (Penal Law 235.07, wholesale promotion) is a class D felony.", "body": "Obscenity in the first degree (Penal Law 235.07, wholesale promotion) is a class D felony.\n\nWhat New York State Senate (Consolidated Laws of New York) actually says:\n\n“Obscenity in the first degree is a class D felony.”\n\nNote: Claude session research 2026-10-23 (web search + fetch of the official page); quote re-checked by the verify gate", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/235.07", "last_verified": "2026-10-23", "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "New York State Senate (Consolidated Laws of New York)", "evidence_quote": "Obscenity in the first degree is a class D felony.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "6717-new-york-obscenity-and-distribution", "subject": "New York", "topic": "penalty - 1st degree", "applies_to_country": "US", "applies_to_scope": "NY", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "us-ny" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r6717_new_york_obscenity_and_distribution_new_york_6717_c9", "category": "Safety", "title": "New York: harmful to minors definition", "summary": "Penal Law 235.20(6) defines 'harmful to minors' by reference to nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement or sado-masochistic abuse that appeals to minors' prurient interest, is patently offensive to adult standards for minors, and lacks serious value for minors.", "body": "Penal Law 235.20(6) defines 'harmful to minors' by reference to nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement or sado-masochistic abuse that appeals to minors' prurient interest, is patently offensive to adult standards for minors, and lacks serious value for minors.\n\nWhat New York State Senate (Consolidated Laws of New York) actually says:\n\n“of nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement, or sado-masochistic abuse, when it:”\n\nNote: Claude session research 2026-10-23 (web search + fetch of the official page); quote re-checked by the verify gate", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/235.20", "last_verified": "2026-10-23", "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "New York State Senate (Consolidated Laws of New York)", "evidence_quote": "of nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement, or sado-masochistic abuse, when it:", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "6717-new-york-obscenity-and-distribution", "subject": "New York", "topic": "harmful to minors definition", "applies_to_country": "US", "applies_to_scope": "NY", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "us-ny" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r6717_new_york_obscenity_and_distribution_new_york_6717_c10", "category": "Safety", "title": "New York: minor definition", "summary": "For the harmful-to-minors sections, Penal Law 235.20(1) defines a minor as a person under seventeen.", "body": "For the harmful-to-minors sections, Penal Law 235.20(1) defines a minor as a person under seventeen.\n\nWhat New York State Senate (Consolidated Laws of New York) actually says:\n\n“\"Minor\" means any person less than seventeen years old.”\n\nNote: Claude session research 2026-10-23 (web search + fetch of the official page); quote re-checked by the verify gate", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/235.20", "last_verified": "2026-10-23", "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "New York State Senate (Consolidated Laws of New York)", "evidence_quote": "\"Minor\" means any person less than seventeen years old.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "6717-new-york-obscenity-and-distribution", "subject": "New York", "topic": "minor definition", "applies_to_country": "US", "applies_to_scope": "NY", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "us-ny" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r6717_new_york_obscenity_and_distribution_new_york_6717_c11", "category": "Safety", "title": "New York: dissemination to minors - 2nd degree", "summary": "Disseminating indecent material to minors in the second degree (Penal Law 235.21, e.g. selling to a minor) is a class E felony.", "body": "Disseminating indecent material to minors in the second degree (Penal Law 235.21, e.g. selling to a minor) is a class E felony.\n\nWhat New York State Senate (Consolidated Laws of New York) actually says:\n\n“Disseminating indecent material to minors in the second degree is a class E felony.”\n\nNote: Claude session research 2026-10-23 (web search + fetch of the official page); quote re-checked by the verify gate", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/235.21", "last_verified": "2026-10-23", "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "New York State Senate (Consolidated Laws of New York)", "evidence_quote": "Disseminating indecent material to minors in the second degree is a class E felony.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "6717-new-york-obscenity-and-distribution", "subject": "New York", "topic": "dissemination to minors - 2nd degree", "applies_to_country": "US", "applies_to_scope": "NY", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "us-ny" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } }, { "id": "learn_r6717_new_york_obscenity_and_distribution_new_york_6717_c12", "category": "Safety", "title": "New York: dissemination to minors - 1st degree (online)", "summary": "Penal Law 235.22 covers using a computer communication system to engage a minor with such material; it is a class D felony. The minors provisions do not by their terms bar online sales to adults 18+; adult sales are reached only if the material is obscene under 235.00.", "body": "Penal Law 235.22 covers using a computer communication system to engage a minor with such material; it is a class D felony. The minors provisions do not by their terms bar online sales to adults 18+; adult sales are reached only if the material is obscene under 235.00.\n\nWhat New York State Senate (Consolidated Laws of New York) actually says:\n\n“Disseminating indecent material to minors in the first degree is a class D felony.”\n\nNote: Claude session research 2026-10-23 (web search + fetch of the official page); quote re-checked by the verify gate", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/235.22", "last_verified": "2026-10-23", "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "New York State Senate (Consolidated Laws of New York)", "evidence_quote": "Disseminating indecent material to minors in the first degree is a class D felony.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "6717-new-york-obscenity-and-distribution", "subject": "New York", "topic": "dissemination to minors - 1st degree (online)", "applies_to_country": "US", "applies_to_scope": "NY", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "us-ny" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" } } ] }