HR2713-119

What This Bill Does

The MAIN Event Ticketing Act expands federal anti-bot ticket law. It makes it unlawful to use or cause the use of an automated application to buy event tickets in circumvention of posted online ticket purchasing rules, including by bypassing access controls or security measures. Ticket issuers that operate ticket-selling websites or online services must enforce posted purchasing limits through access controls, establish administrative, technical, and physical safeguards, oversee service providers by contract and periodic assessment, update safeguards as threats and technology change, report known circumvention incidents to the FTC within 30 days, and take reasonable steps to address causes of known circumvention. The FTC must create or modify a public complaint website within 180 days, share reports and complaints with State attorneys general as appropriate, publish guidance within one year, and report to Congress on enforcement actions and limitations. The FTC may sue in federal court for civil penalties, injunctive relief, and equitable relief, with penalties of at least $10,000 per day plus at least $1,000 per violation and an added penalty of at least $10,000 per intentional violation. FBI, DOJ, and State or local law enforcement may coordinate with the FTC on cyberattacks against ticketing controls.

Who Benefits and How

Event ticket buyers benefit because automated bot purchasing and circumvention of posted ticket limits become easier to enforce against. Artists and event promoters benefit if strengthened anti-bot rules reduce bulk purchasing that pushes fans into inflated resale markets. Ticket issuers benefit from FTC complaint infrastructure and law enforcement coordination against cyberattacks on ticketing controls. State attorneys general benefit from FTC sharing of ticket issuer reports and consumer complaints.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Ticket issuers must maintain access controls, security safeguards, service-provider oversight, incident reporting, and corrective measures. Ticket resale bot operators face civil penalties and injunctive or equitable relief for circumvention violations. The Federal Trade Commission must operate reporting systems, issue guidance, litigate penalties, coordinate with law enforcement, and report to Congress. Ticketing service providers must satisfy contractual safeguards and periodic assessments if they handle ticket sale services or purchasing data.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits automated ticket-purchasing applications that circumvent posted online ticket purchasing rules or access controls.
• Requires ticket issuers to maintain site security safeguards, enforce purchase limits, oversee service providers, and update controls.
• Requires ticket issuers to report known circumvention incidents to the FTC within 30 days and address causes.
• Creates FTC civil action authority, minimum civil penalties, consumer complaint infrastructure, law enforcement coordination, and congressional reporting.