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WASHINGTON – Legislation Congressman Paul Tonko introduced in April with Tennessee Republican Marsha Blackburn passed the United States House last night and has been sent to the White House for President Barack Obama’s signature into law.

The Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act would make use of computer hacking software to circumvent security measures employed by ticketing sites an “unfair and deceptive practice” under the Federal Trade Commission Act, and a crime under Title 18 of the U.S. Code. It would also create a private right of action whereby parties harmed by bots can sue in federal court to recover damages.

“People work hard and save money to see a performance or a game, and they shouldn’t be prohibited from buying a ticket online because a computer program beats them to the punch. It’s not right. This legislation puts a stop to this unseemly practice at its root, prohibiting use or sale of bot software and empowering consumers to fight back against price manipulators in the ticket industry. I thank Senator Schumer for pushing this bill through the Senate, as well as New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman who has already begun to crack down on this problem at the state level,” said Tonko.

Senator Schumer was the lead Democratic sponsor of the BOTS Act in the U.S. Senate. In New York, Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced that he would introduce legislation as part of a bid to crack down on the use of bot software.

Organizations supporting this bipartisan legislation include The Recording Academy, Pandora, Live Nation Entertainment, as well as the Tennessee Sports and Entertainment Industry Coalition.

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