MAIN Event Ticketing Act
Sponsored By: Senator Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]
In Committee
Summary
Deterring automated circumvention of online ticketing rules is the bill's main goal. It would expand the law against ticket‑buying bots, force ticket sellers to strengthen technical controls and reporting, and give the Federal Trade Commission new civil enforcement tools and interagency duties.
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- Consumers and ticket buyers: The bill would aim to reduce bot success and improve site security. It requires sellers to fix known weaknesses and report circumvention incidents and complaints to the FTC within 30 days.
- Online ticket issuers and platforms: Issuers would have to implement and regularly evaluate access controls and other technological measures to enforce posted buying limits. They must take reasonable steps to address known causes of circumvention and share reports with state attorneys general as appropriate.
- Enforcement and law enforcement: The FTC would get authority to bring civil actions for violations and seek penalties that include at least $10,000 per day and additional per‑violation fines including higher penalties for intentional violations. The bill also calls for FBI and Department of Justice coordination with the FTC on cyberattack information and an FTC report to Congress on enforcement within one year.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Coordination on ticketing cyberattacks
If enacted, the FBI, Attorney General, and state or local law enforcement would coordinate with the FTC about cyberattacks on ticketing controls. They could share ongoing investigation information but could exclude classified or sensitive details. The bill would define 'cyberattack' to include disabling, destroying, or stealing ticketing system data.
FTC guidance and enforcement limits
If enacted, the FTC would have to publish compliance guidance for the new ticketing rules within one year. The guidance would not create legal rights or bind parties. The FTC could not base enforcement actions only on inconsistency with guidance without alleging a specific statutory violation.
New rules for online ticket sellers
If enacted, online ticket sellers would be treated as 'online ticket issuers' when they regularly sell tickets on a website. They would need to use and keep up access controls to enforce posted ticket limits and fix known bypasses. They would have to report known circumvention incidents to the FTC within 30 days. The bill would also define what counts as 'circumvention' and let existing civil enforcement apply to these duties.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]
TN • R
Cosponsors
Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]
NM • D
Sponsored 1/22/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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