Published
Sat, Mar 11, 2017, 13:58
- Ministers will take up recommendations to adopt a tougher line on bots used to bulk-buy and resell tickets.
The UK government has announced plans to introduce unlimited fines to touts who sell event tickets at inflated prices.
The new legislation, which comes in the form of an amendment to the Digital Economy Bill, will outlaw the use of bots used to bulk-buy tickets and sell them on secondary websites for a profit.
The new anti-bot measures come from a review conducted by Professor Michael Waterson, who wrote that ticketing outlets need to take action to combat touts using bots, or face punitive measures of their own if they fail to act.
Speaking to the BBC, a spokesman for the Department For Culture, Media And Sport (DCMS) said the profiteering was "simply not fair." Jo Dipple, chief executive of music industry representatives UK Music, told the BBC: "Massive profit is made by people who are taking value out of the music industry and putting tickets out of the reach of music fans. Banning bots is a step towards ensuring the ticketing market for live events works more fairly for gig-goers."
In 2014 Resident Advisor started its own ticket resale service geared towards creating a fair system for promoters and music fans.