Senate OKs Bill Cracking Down on Software Used to Amass Event Tickets, Raise Prices
Legislation that would make it illegal to use computer software to buy large numbers of tickets for entertainment events and then resell them to the public at markedly higher prices passed the Senate by unanimous consent Thursday night. "This bill…
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helps level the playing field for consumers and takes aim at artificially inflated prices," said Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., in a news release. He introduced the bipartisan Better Online Ticket Sales Act (S-3183) and held a consumer protection subcommittee hearing about the bill, which cleared the Senate Commerce Committee in September (see 1609210040). "Ticket bots have affected people across the country, and the need to end this growing practice is reflected in the widespread support in the Senate. I hope to see the House act quickly to get this bill to the president’s desk," he said. The House passed similar, but not identical, legislation (HR-5104) in September (see 1609120073). Both bills deem that use of such software is an unfair and deceptive practice enforceable by the FTC. On Monday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) signed a bill into law that expands the definition of ticket purchasing software, increases penalties for users of ticket bots and those who resells tickets that they know were obtained via such software and establishes a class A misdemeanor for using such software.