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presence
12-10-2016, 08:06 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dg5VkrLuLr4


Bill would block ticket hackers

Michael Collins, USA TODAY 12:28 p.m. EST December 10, 2016

WASHINGTON -- The days of scalpers gobbling up tickets to popular concerts or other live events may be coming to an end.

The House gave final approval Wednesday night to legislation that would bar scalpers from using computer-hacking software, or so-called bots, to instantly buy up large swaths of tickets for live events. The bill is now awaiting President Barack Obama’s signature.

“It is time to end these anti-consumer tactics and level the online ticket playing field for fans of live entertainment,” said Tennessee Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Brentwood, who sponsored the House version of the legislation.

Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, sponsored the Senate version of the bill.

Scalpers often use software bots to evade computer security and buy mass quantities of tickets for concerts and other live events immediately after the tickets go on sale online. They then resell the tickets at much higher prices.

The legislation, called the Better Online Ticket Sales Act, prohibits scalpers from circumventing a security measure or other access control system used to enforce limits on ticket purchases. The ban applies to events where there will be an audience of more than 200 people.

The bill also makes it illegal to sell tickets obtained by circumventing such controls.

Violations of the law would be considered an “unfair and deceptive act” and subject to enforcement by the Federal Trade Commission.

Some states, including Tennessee, already have laws that make the use of bot software to buy tickets illegal, but the crime is rarely prosecuted. In Nashville, no one has ever been prosecuted for violating the law.

A federal law will make it easier to crack down on the use of bot software.

Ticketmaster already has its own filters to try to block bots, and artists like country singer Eric Church are using sophisticated efforts to crack down on scalpers and bots. But the federal law has been sought by venues and major touring artists.

The federal law also has been supported by online ticket companies Ticketfly and StubHub, who say the misuse of bots harms all parts of the entertainment industry, including performers and consumers.

“We believe in a music economy that works for everyone — artists and fans, music venues and promoters — and we applaud passage of the BOTS Act as an excellent first step in stopping the insidious practice of ticket bots depriving consumers of fair access to tickets,” said Katie Peters, director of government relations for Pandora, which owns Ticketfly.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2016/12/08/bill-would-block-ticket-hackers/95159150/

euphemia
12-10-2016, 08:45 PM
Well, don't buy through TicketMaster. Their service charges are sometimes higher than the tickets themselves, even if you do it yourself.