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Ticketmaster Seeks Dismissal of FTC Scalping Lawsuit

1/8/2026

45 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Ticketmaster and its parent Live Nation Entertainment ask the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to dismiss its January 6 lawsuit accusing them of enabling scalping and violating the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act.
They say the BOTS Act is misapplied, targeting scalping rather than platforms.
They contend the FTC has not proven Ticketmaster's awareness of any violations.
A hearing on the motion to dismiss is scheduled for February 19, 2026.

History

Historical Context

The Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act, signed into law by President Obama on December 14, 2016, aimed to combat ticket scalping by banning the use of bots for mass ticket purchases. Ticketmaster, which reported $4.6 billion in revenue in 2019, has faced legal challenges regarding compliance with this law, highlighting ongoing tensions between consumer protection and corporate practices in ticket sales.

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Story summary

Ticketmaster and its parent Live Nation Entertainment ask the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to dismiss its January 6 lawsuit accusing them of enabling scalping and violating the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act.
They say the BOTS Act is misapplied, targeting scalping rather than platforms.
They contend the FTC has not proven Ticketmaster's awareness of any violations.
A hearing on the motion to dismiss is scheduled for February 19, 2026.

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