President Obama signs nationwide legislation banning ticket bots

demetrios
demetrios Posts: 97,891
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

image

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

  • H.Chinaski
    H.Chinaski Brooklyn, NY Posts: 1,602
    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/
  • jjflash
    jjflash Posts: 5,038
    :clap:
  • EM194007
    EM194007 Posts: 2,827
    Good idea, but it won't help at all unfortunately.
  • mcgruff10
    mcgruff10 New Jersey Posts: 29,146
    Yes!
    I'll ride the wave where it takes me......
  • on2legs
    on2legs Posts: 16,024
    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 (#25) | 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  2025: Raleigh 2


  • jmug23
    jmug23 Posts: 778
    Hope it helps. Not holding my breath though.
  • PJfanwillneverleave1
    PJfanwillneverleave1 Posts: 12,885
    Yes!
    Return of the F5!
  • FoxyRedLa
    FoxyRedLa 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.
  • mookieblalock
    mookieblalock Posts: 3,590
    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.
  • PJfanwillneverleave1
    PJfanwillneverleave1 Posts: 12,885
    FoxyRedLa said:

    :whistle: do a little dance :whistle:

    It's F5 tonight!
  • PJfanwillneverleave1
    PJfanwillneverleave1 Posts: 12,885
    edited December 2016
    Bots you say are holding back fans attending Pearl Jam?
    Tell me what you want Eddie.
    image
  • buck502000
    buck502000 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....
  • TA243471
    TA243471 The Great Northwest Posts: 1,251
    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
    • 2024: Vancouver 1, Portland, Las Vegas 1&2, Seattle 1&2, Missoula, Dana Point 1 & 2
  • pearldavidson
    pearldavidson Posts: 1,703
    Awesome!
  • Tim Simmons
    Tim Simmons Posts: 9,991
    Gonna be the last nice thing the government does for pretty much everybody for a long while.
  • Zod
    Zod Posts: 10,916
    So what's the punishment if busted running a bot?
  • glennb2112
    glennb2112 memphis Posts: 248
    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?
  • mookeywrench
    mookeywrench Posts: 6,081
    It's a federal offense to illegally download music and video....nice gesture, but I won't believe it until it's enforced.
  • LeafsJaysCubsRaptorsFan
    LeafsJaysCubsRaptorsFan Posts: 3,417
    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

  • Sarava
    Sarava Naperville, IL Posts: 2,061
    Now the next question, how will they stop and then enforce this?

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