MAIN Event Ticketing Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 2713
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Commerce
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-04-08: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-09T14:15:02Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The Mitigating Automated Internet Networks for Event Ticketing Act (MAIN Event Ticketing Act) aims to enhance consumer protections in online ticket sales by strengthening rules against the use of automated software (commonly known as "bots") that unfairly buy up event tickets. It builds on existing law to prevent bots from bypassing ticket sale limits and security measures, promoting fair access for everyday buyers and reducing scalping practices.
Key Provisions
- Prohibitions on Bot Use: Expands bans to include using or deploying software applications that automate ticket purchases to evade a website's rules, such as limits on how many tickets one person can buy or security systems designed to prevent automated buying.
- Requirements for Ticket Sellers (Issuers): Online platforms that sell event tickets must:
- Implement access controls (like login requirements or purchase caps) to enforce ticket limits.
- Establish and maintain security safeguards (administrative, technical, and physical measures) to protect their sites from unauthorized access or tampering, tailored to the platform's size, operations, and risks.
- Ensure third-party vendors (e.g., payment processors) also follow similar security standards through contracts and oversight.
- Regularly update these safeguards in response to new threats or technologies.
- Reporting Obligations: Ticket sellers must report known bot circumvention incidents (e.g., bypassing security) to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) within 30 days. The FTC must create a public website for consumers to report violations and share reports/complaints with state attorneys general.
- Response to Violations: Sellers must take reasonable steps to fix security weaknesses after discovering bot activity.
- Enforcement Tools:
- The FTC can file civil lawsuits in federal court for violations, seeking penalties, injunctions (court orders to stop illegal activity), or other remedies.
- Civil penalties include at least $10,000 per day for ongoing violations, plus $1,000 per individual violation; intentional violations add an extra $10,000 per incident.
- The FTC has authority to litigate these cases independently but must notify the U.S. Attorney General.
- Coordination and Guidance:
- Law enforcement agencies (e.g., FBI, Department of Justice) must share information with the FTC on cyberattacks targeting ticket sites, excluding sensitive details.
- The FTC must issue compliance guidance for ticket sellers within one year and submit a report to Congress on enforcement efforts and any limitations within one year.
- Definitions: Introduces "circumvention" as any act that avoids, bypasses, or impairs a site's security or control measures.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill amends the Better Online Ticket Sales Act of 2016 (BOTS Act), which previously only prohibited using bots to exceed ticket purchase limits. Key updates include:
- Broadening the ban to cover software that circumvents any posted rules or security systems, not just purchase limits.
- Adding mandatory security requirements and reporting duties for ticket sellers, which were not in the original law.
- Introducing civil penalties and direct FTC lawsuit authority, replacing the prior reliance on state attorneys general for enforcement.
- Requiring FTC guidance, consumer reporting tools, and inter-agency coordination on cyber threats, expanding the law's scope beyond basic prohibitions.
Potential Impacts
- On Citizens: Improves access to tickets at fair prices by curbing bot-driven scalping, potentially reducing frustration for fans who miss out on events due to automated bulk buying. Consumers gain a direct way to report issues via the FTC website.
- On Government Agencies: Empowers the FTC with stronger enforcement tools, including lawsuits and penalties, increasing its role in consumer protection for online sales. It fosters better coordination between federal agencies (FTC, FBI, DOJ) and state officials, but may strain resources for monitoring and litigation. No direct impacts on international relations are outlined.
- Broader Effects: Could lead to more secure online ticketing platforms, but smaller sellers might face higher compliance costs for security upgrades.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Consumers: Primary beneficiaries, as the law targets unfair practices that limit their ability to buy tickets.
- Ticket Issuers and Platforms: Companies like Ticketmaster or StubHub must invest in security, reporting, and compliance, facing potential fines for failures.
- Bot Operators and Scalpers: Face stricter prohibitions and heavier penalties, making automated ticket hoarding riskier and less profitable.
- Government Entities: FTC gains enforcement responsibilities; state attorneys general receive shared data for local actions; law enforcement agencies (FBI, DOJ) collaborate on cyber issues.
- Third-Party Vendors: Service providers (e.g., tech firms handling payments or data) must meet new security standards when working with ticket sites.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal Implications: Strengthens federal consumer protection by giving the FTC explicit litigation powers and penalties, potentially leading to more lawsuits against violators. It complements existing antitrust and unfair trade laws without overriding them, but the focus on "circumvention" could spark debates over what counts as a violation (e.g., distinguishing legitimate tools from bots).
- Constitutional Implications: None significant; the bill regulates commercial activity under Congress's commerce clause authority and does not appear to infringe on free speech or privacy rights, as safeguards emphasize reasonable security without mandating data collection.
- Political Implications: Addresses widespread public complaints about ticket bots (e.g., for concerts or sports), potentially boosting bipartisan support for consumer issues. The congressional reporting requirement ensures oversight, but enforcement limitations noted in the FTC report could prompt future amendments if resources prove insufficient.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Harshbarger, Diana [R-TN-1]
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2025-04-08: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2025-04-08: Introduced in House
- 2025-04-08: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Mitigating Automated Internet Networks for Event Ticketing Act — issued 2025-04-08 — PDF (12 pages)