The state of New York has drawn up new secondary ticketing laws in an effort to curb ticket touting.
Last week, politicians in New York’s state legislature passed a bill that will develop the rules surrounding ticket resale. Under the new rules, secondary ticketers will have to reveal full ticket prices, including fees, at the start of any transaction. They will also have to clearly state that they are resellers, and that their costs may be higher than a ticket’s face value.
Resellers will also be obliged to reveal upfront if they are selling tickets they are not yet in possession of — a common occurrence when resellers in the state list tickets for upcoming events. The resellers will have to gain clear confirmation that customers know this, and refund them within 10 days if they fail to provide the tickets.
The new rules were voted into law with a large majority, but they still need to be signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo before they come into effect.
It’s not just governments who are waging a war on ticket touts. Big name artists are joining the fight, too. In May, Ed Sheeran made headlines for turning fans away from his stadium shows if they bought their tickets through reseller Viagogo.
Featured image by Randy Heinitz. Used under Creative Commons.
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