Resources
We believe more needs to be done to reform the ticketing market by giving properly licensed, responsible secondary operators the right to buy and re-sell tickets without unfair restrictions (as consumers can) and introducing more transparency into the primary market. This would produce a well-regulated, free-market environment similar to that in the United States which is favourably regarded.
Updates
Recent regulatory and policy updates on ticketing issues include:
CMA launches investigation into Ticketmaster over Oasis concert sales
5 September 2024
CMA recommendations on secondary ticketing: government response
10 May 2023
Secondary Ticketing – Recommendations to government for improving consumer protection
August 2021
Summary of the court order – CMA vs Viagogo
17 December 2018
Trading standards law explained the sale and resale of tickets guide
6 September 2018
The House of Lords agreed to the Order by the Secretary of State to ban bots
13 June 2018
The UK Government’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) updated existing guidance for secondary ticketing websites
15 February 2018
The UK Parliament’s Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee announced a new inquiry into ‘Live Music’ which seeks to review the growth of the secondary ticketing market
19 January 2018
The Competition and Markets Authority released an update on its work with the live events industry surrounding the application of unfair terms law to ticketing terms and conditions
28 November 2017
The Government responded to the May 2016 Waterson report and accepted his recommendations in full
13 March 2017
The UK Government published an independent report by Warwick University Professor Michael Waterson which supported the secondary ticketing market, albeit with some regulatory changes
26 May 2016
The UK Government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport released a research paper – Online Secondary Facility User Survey – to identify web users
May 2016
The Department for Business Enterprise & Regulatory Reform introduced guidance on the UK Regulations implementing the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive
May 2008