While searching the internet, I found something interesting...

[autobilia]

About people getting ripped off, grab bags, and law:

BILL NUMBER: SB 861 CHAPTERED 09/29/94

CHAPTER 1074
FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE SEPTEMBER 29, 1994
APPROVED BY GOVERNOR SEPTEMBER 28, 1994
PASSED THE SENATE AUGUST 17, 1994
PASSED THE ASSEMBLY AUGUST 16, 1994
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 29, 1994
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 15, 1994
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 23, 1994
AMENDED IN SENATE JULY 8, 1993
AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 19, 1993

INTRODUCED BY Senator Hughes

MARCH 4, 1993

An act to amend Section 21672 of, and to add Section 17539.35
to, the Business and Professions Code, and to add Section 319.3
to the Penal Code, relating to crimes.

Here is the interesting part:

SECTION 1. Section 17539.35 is added to the Business and
Professions Code, to read:
17539.35. No person shall advertise, offer, or operate any
contest, as defined in subdivision (e) of Section 17539.3, in
which any prize, including any money, property, service, or
other matter of value, may be awarded or transferred if the
opportunity to win that prize is conditioned on a minimum number
of entries or contest participants.
SEC. 2. Section 21672 of the Business and Professions Code is
amended to read:
21672. (a) Any person, or agent thereof, who knowingly
manufactures, produces, or distributes unlicensed or counterfeit
sports trading cards with the intent to deceive, injure, or
defraud another, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
Any person, or agent thereof, who violates this subdivision
shall do both of the following:
(1) Refund to the buyer the full amount paid for the
unlicensed or counterfeit sports trading card or the full retail
value of any nonmonetary consideration received in exchange for
the unlicensed or counterfeit sports trading card, or both.
(2) Be liable to the buyer for a civil penalty not to exceed
one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each violation. Each card
sold represents a separate and distinct violation.
(b) Any person who knowingly sells a cut, unlicensed sports
trading card that has been produced by cutting the card from a
publication in which unlicensed sports trading cards are bound,
without disclosing the source and the means of producing the
card, with the intent to deceive, injure, or defraud another, is
guilty of a misdemeanor.
Any person who violates this subdivision shall do both of the
following:
(1) Refund to the buyer the full consideration paid or
furnished for the cut, unlicensed sports trading card.
(2) Be liable to the buyer for a civil penalty not to exceed
one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each violation. Each card
sold represents a separate and distinct violation.
This provision does not apply to a sports trading card that
is excluded from the definition of "unlicensed sports trading
card" pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 21670 of the
Business and Professions Code by reason of being bound in a
publication.
SEC. 3. Section 319.3 is added to the Penal Code, to read:
319.3. (a) In addition to Section 319, a lottery also shall
include a grab bag game which is a scheme whereby, for the
disposal or distribution of sports trading cards by chance, a
person pays valuable consideration to purchase a sports trading
card grab bag with the understanding that the purchaser has a
chance to win a designated prize or prizes listed by the seller
as being contained in one or more, but not all, of the grab
bags.
(b) For purposes of this section, the following definitions
shall apply:
(1) "Sports trading card grab bag" means a sealed package
which contains one or more sports trading cards that have been
removed from the manufacturer's original packaging. A "sports
trading card grab bag" does not include a sweepstakes, or
procedure for the distribution of any sports trading card of
value by lot or by chance, which is not unlawful under other
provisions of law.
(2) "Sports trading card" means any card produced for use in
commerce that contains a company name or logo, or both, and an
image, representation, or facsimile of one or more players or
other team member or members in any pose, and that is produced
pursuant to an appropriate licensing agreement.
SEC. 4. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution
because the only costs which may be incurred by a local agency
or school district will be incurred because this act creates a
new crime or infraction, changes the definition of a crime or
infraction, changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, or
eliminates a crime or infraction. Notwithstanding Section 17580
of the Government Code, unless otherwise specified in this act,
the provisions of this act shall become operative on the same
date that the act takes effect pursuant to the California
Constitution.

 

[autobilia]

That's for the state of Celifornia I beleieve. Here is the direct link:
http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/93-94/statute/ch_1051-1100/ch_1074_st_1994_sb_861

 

[langway05]

Ike

An interestin' read.. Made my head hurt with all of that legalise... BTW!

Anyways, this might be an interesting turn of events. That is if someone steps up to the plate and attempts legal action, if they're not happy with the contents of the "Sports trading card grab bag"

The definition:

(1) "Sports trading card grab bag" means a sealed package
which contains one or more sports trading cards that have been
removed from the manufacturer's original packaging. A "sports
trading card grab bag" does not include a sweepstakes, or
procedure for the distribution of any sports trading card of
value by lot or by chance, which is not unlawful under other
provisions of law.

Brian

 

[autobilia]

Yes, but the law posts is for the state of Califronia.

 

[Plumbob13]

There is still more to it..see sections 21670 and 21671 as well...link provided below.

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/waisgate?WAISdocID=59111511320+0+0+0&WAISaction=retrieve