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President Obama signs nationwide legislation banning ticket bots

demetriosdemetrios Canada Posts: 87,848
in The Porch
"It's now a federal offense to use computer software to buy tickets online"

http://consequenceofsound.net/2016/12/president-obama-signs-nationwide-legislation-banning-ticket-bots/
by Collin Brennan

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President Obama has signed into law the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act of 2016, which makes it a federal offense to use computer software to buy tickets online. The bill, which was passed by the Senate last month and the House last week, deems ticketing bots “an unfair and deceptive practice” in violation of the Federal Trade Commission Act.

Ticketing bots are pieces of software that can snatch up thousands of tickets within seconds of them going on sale, resulting in those same tickets being sold for a heavy markup on third-party sites like StubHub. Those who use such bots, as well as those aware of their use, will now be liable for punishment under the law. According to the bill’s Republican sponsor, Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran, the legislation will “level the playing field” for those frequenting ticketing sites.

As part of the signed legislation, the federal government can also intervene and file civil suits on behalf of people who were shut out of purchasing tickets due to scalpers using ticketing bots. It remains to be seen how effective the new legislation will be, but this seems like a win for the average music fan.

Below, revisit our documentary Sold Out!: Inside America’s Ticketing Landscape:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqgpzGyfIVM
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Comments

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    H.ChinaskiH.Chinaski Brooklyn, NY Posts: 1,596
    This is great!
    Pine Knob, MI Lollapalooza 1992 / Soldier Field, Chicago 1995 / Savage Hall, Toledo 1996 / Palace, Detroit 1998 / Palace, Detroit 2000 / Pine Knob, MI 2003 / Showbox, Seattle 2004 / MSG, NYC 2008 / Key Arena I & II, Seattle 2009 / Eddie Vedder Beacon, NYC 2011 / Eddie Vedder Benaroya, Hall Seattle 2011 / Barclays, Brooklyn I &II 2013 / Wells Fargo, Philadelphia II 2013 / Wuhlheide, Berlin, Germany 2014 / Wells Fargo, Philadelphia 1 2016 / Madison Square Garden, NYC 2 2016 / Wrigley 2, Chicago 2016/ Fenway 1, Boston 2018/
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    jjflashjjflash Posts: 4,841
    :clap:
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    EM194007EM194007 Posts: 2,827
    Good idea, but it won't help at all unfortunately.
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    mcgruff10mcgruff10 New Jersey Posts: 27,888
    Yes!
    I'll ride the wave where it takes me......
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    on2legson2legs Standing in the Jersey rain… Posts: 14,433
    See you all in the front row!!!
    1996: Randall's Island 2  1998: East Rutherford | MSG 1 & 2  2000: Cincinnati | Columbus | Jones Beach 1, 2, & 3 | Boston 1 | Camden 1 & 2 2003: Philadelphia | Uniondale | MSG 1 & 2 | Holmdel  2005: Atlantic City 1  2006: Camden 1 | East Rutherford 1 & 2 2008: Camden 1 & 2 | MSG 1 & 2 | Newark (EV)  2009: Philadelphia 1, 2 & 4  2010: Newark | MSG 1 & 2  2011: Toronto 1  2013: Wrigley Field | Brooklyn 2 | Philadelphia 1 & 2 | Baltimore  2015: Central Park  2016: Philadelphia 1 & 2 | MSG 1 & 2 | Fenway Park 2 | MSG (TOTD)  2017: Brooklyn (RnR HOF)  2020: MSG | Asbury Park  2021: Asbury Park  2022: MSG | Camden | Nashville  2024: MSG 1 & 2 (#50) | Philadelphia 1 & 2 | Baltimore


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    jmug23jmug23 Posts: 778
    Hope it helps. Not holding my breath though.
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    PJfanwillneverleave1PJfanwillneverleave1 Posts: 12,885
    Yes!
    Return of the F5!
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    FoxyRedLaFoxyRedLa Lauren / MI Posts: 4,810
    :whistle: do a little dance :whistle:
    Oh please let it rain today.
    Those that can be trusted can change their mind.
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    mookieblalockmookieblalock Posts: 3,178
    And how will this be proven when ticket bastard turns a blind eye and gets their pockets greased? Call me a cynic. Just a minor bump in the road for scalpers.
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    PJfanwillneverleave1PJfanwillneverleave1 Posts: 12,885
    FoxyRedLa said:

    :whistle: do a little dance :whistle:

    It's F5 tonight!
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    PJfanwillneverleave1PJfanwillneverleave1 Posts: 12,885
    edited December 2016
    Bots you say are holding back fans attending Pearl Jam?
    Tell me what you want Eddie.
    image
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    buck502000buck502000 Birthplace of GIBSON guitar Posts: 8,951
    PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

    Bots you say are holding back fans attending Pearl Jam?
    Tell me what you want Eddie.
    image

    I ain't no democrat, I am a patriot....
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    TA243471TA243471 The Great Northwest Posts: 1,129
    It may not solve all the problems, but it sure can't hurt
    • 2006: Gorge 1
    • 2009: Seattle 1
    • 2013: Seattle
    • 2016: Wrigley 1 & 2
    • 2018: Seattle 1&2, Montana
    • 2020: San Diego, LA 1&2, Oakland 1&2
    • 2022: San Diego, LA 1&2, Fresno, Sacramento, Las Vegas, Denver
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    pearldavidsonpearldavidson PA Posts: 1,356
    Awesome!
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    Tim SimmonsTim Simmons Posts: 6,942
    Gonna be the last nice thing the government does for pretty much everybody for a long while.
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    ZodZod Posts: 10,165
    So what's the punishment if busted running a bot?
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    glennb2112glennb2112 memphis Posts: 247
    Whats worse than BOTS is finding great seats and then Ticketmaster crashes..or they give you the "best available" only to find better seats after the purchase. I had front row for Tom Petty and the site crashed..can Obama fix that too?
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    mookeywrenchmookeywrench Posts: 5,757
    It's a federal offense to illegally download music and video....nice gesture, but I won't believe it until it's enforced.
    350x700px-LL-d2f49cb4_vinyl-needle-scu-e1356666258495.jpeg
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    LeafsJaysCubsRaptorsFanLeafsJaysCubsRaptorsFan Posts: 3,406
    Zod said:

    So what's the punishment if busted running a bot?

    Yeah and how will it be enforced. My guess is that it won't and can't

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    SaravaSarava Naperville, IL Posts: 1,998
    Now the next question, how will they stop and then enforce this?
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    ZodZod Posts: 10,165
    LeafsJaysCubsRaptorsFan said:

    Zod said:

    So what's the punishment if busted running a bot?

    Yeah and how will it be enforced. My guess is that it won't and can't

    Not to mention the obvious workaround is to host the bot outside of the united states. Same thing you do to avoid states/provinces that have antiscalping legislation. Sell the tickets out of a different/state province.
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    Wma31394Wma31394 Posts: 3,045
    Good job Barry..
    "Going where the water tastes like wine!"
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    crookedcrosscrookedcross Right Near Da Beach, Boiii Posts: 1,418
    Most websites are actually very effective at fighting bots. TM for example, actually look at names, cc #s, and addresses to check quantity limits. The problem's actual people buying up tix to sell and it's just very difficult to combat that. Bots are old news. Step towards the right direction, though.. so cheers.
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    ZodZod Posts: 10,165
    crookedcross said:

    Most websites are actually very effective at fighting bots. TM for example, actually look at names, cc #s, and addresses to check quantity limits. The problem's actual people buying up tix to sell and it's just very difficult to combat that. Bots are old news. Step towards the right direction, though.. so cheers.

    lol! Did you see that documentary from the uk a few years ago where the brokers had a cd wallet full of different credit cards registered in different names, just for ordering tickets the UK equivelant of TM. I don't think getting access to credit cards with different names/address is a big deal for brokers.
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    BentleyspopBentleyspop Craft Beer Brewery, Colorado Posts: 10,547
    Talked to a friend today who is peripherally involved in the ticket business.
    He said that without a dedicated agency, or team, to go after the people who use the bots, it will be near impossible to stop them.

    He said it will take stronger efforts from local states attorneys, like the one in NY, going after the individual brokers to put an end to the bots.

    In addition, Ticketmaster has no vested interest in putting an end to the bots even though could very easily. Unless there is legislative and legal pressure to do so.

    Also it seems the public is so well trained to go online and buy aftermarket tickets that there is no reason for the brokers to stop until forced.
    Stubhub is poised to break 3 billion in sales this year.

    Good luck on future sales
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    EdsonNascimentoEdsonNascimento Posts: 5,506
    Typical Obama. King of shot that has no impact yet placates the stupid masses. At least this time he didn't hand out money.
    Sorry. The world doesn't work the way you tell it to.
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    EdsonNascimentoEdsonNascimento Posts: 5,506
    TA243471 said:

    It may not solve all the problems, but it sure can't hurt

    It solves no problems and will cause unintended consequences. You guys do realize we all use softeware to purchase tickets right? Funny folks say trump has no experience which is true, How much did Obama have?
    Sorry. The world doesn't work the way you tell it to.
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    NewJPageNewJPage Posts: 3,301
    EdsonNascimento said:

    Typical Obama. King of shot that has no impact yet placates the stupid masses. At least this time he didn't hand out money.

    I think Bush was the one that handed out money, but you sound pretty grounded in reality so I'm sure you knew that ;)
    6/26/98, 8/17/00, 10/8/00, 12/8/02, 12/9/02, 4/25/03, 5/28/03, 6/1/03, 6/3/03, 6/5/03, 6/6/03, 6/12/03, 6/13/03, 6/15/03, 6/18/03, 6/21/03, 6/22/03, 7/12/03, 7/14/03, 10/3/04, 10/5/04, 9/9/05, 9/11/05, 9/16/05, 5/16/06, 5/17/06, 5/19/06, 6/30/06, 7/23/06, 8/5/07, 6/30/08, 8/23/09, 8/24/09, 5/4/10, 5/7/10, 9/3/11, 9/4/11, 10/11/13, 10/17/14, 8/20/16
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    ZodZod Posts: 10,165
    NewJPage said:

    EdsonNascimento said:

    Typical Obama. King of shot that has no impact yet placates the stupid masses. At least this time he didn't hand out money.

    I think Bush was the one that handed out money, but you sound pretty grounded in reality so I'm sure you knew that ;)
    The thing was Bush's term just ended as the big economic collapse happened. He got to walk away from it. I think he was president for the first bail out package, and then Obama had just become president when the 2nd one rolled out. People seem to forget Obama inherited the country in the worse economic shape it had been in since the 30s. I'm pretty sure he left the country in better economic shape than in he inherited in. I will counterargue that given how bad it was when he took over that shouldn't of been hard to do :)
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    NewJPageNewJPage Posts: 3,301
    Zod said:

    NewJPage said:

    EdsonNascimento said:

    Typical Obama. King of shot that has no impact yet placates the stupid masses. At least this time he didn't hand out money.

    I think Bush was the one that handed out money, but you sound pretty grounded in reality so I'm sure you knew that ;)
    The thing was Bush's term just ended as the big economic collapse happened. He got to walk away from it. I think he was president for the first bail out package, and then Obama had just become president when the 2nd one rolled out. People seem to forget Obama inherited the country in the worse economic shape it had been in since the 30s. I'm pretty sure he left the country in better economic shape than in he inherited in. I will counterargue that given how bad it was when he took over that shouldn't of been hard to do :)
    Yes, generally agree. He referenced Obama handing out money, which Bush literally did around 2003. I remember getting the check!
    6/26/98, 8/17/00, 10/8/00, 12/8/02, 12/9/02, 4/25/03, 5/28/03, 6/1/03, 6/3/03, 6/5/03, 6/6/03, 6/12/03, 6/13/03, 6/15/03, 6/18/03, 6/21/03, 6/22/03, 7/12/03, 7/14/03, 10/3/04, 10/5/04, 9/9/05, 9/11/05, 9/16/05, 5/16/06, 5/17/06, 5/19/06, 6/30/06, 7/23/06, 8/5/07, 6/30/08, 8/23/09, 8/24/09, 5/4/10, 5/7/10, 9/3/11, 9/4/11, 10/11/13, 10/17/14, 8/20/16
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