- Demands include clear liability for secondary ticketing marketplaces, ticket and seller verification obligations, increased transparency, efficient reporting of tickets listed illegally
- Call for rigorous enforcement by a dedicated EU agency, giving performance ratings to keep advertising networks in the know
- In response to the Digital Services Act, upgrading liability and safety rules for digital platforms
Download FEAT’s position paper here: https://bit.ly/3obUD11
FEAT has published its recommendations for the future of online ticket resale, calling for new rules that shield fans against harmful secondary ticketing practices and reduce illegal ticket resale across the EU.
The proposals are backed by the International Federation of Musicians (FIM), Pearle* — Live Performance Europe, the European Music Managers Alliance (EMMA), Spain’s Association of Music Promoters (APM), German event promoters’ association BDKV, campaigning group Victim of Viagogo and the global Association for Electronic Music. They are also broadly supported by Professor Michael Waterson, economics professor at Warwick University, who led a watershed independent review into secondary ticketing on behalf of the UK government in 2016.
The Digital Services Act was announced by the European Commission in February to offer greater protection and create a level playing field for consumers buying online, with the European Parliament approving initial proposals late on Tuesday.
FEAT’s recommendations include:
- Clear liability rules for ticket resale marketplaces, making sure they are held responsible for allowing or encouraging illegal activity
- Verification processes that require marketplaces to vet sellers and their tickets to prevent illegal or speculative sales
- Transparency measures that ensure marketplaces clearly provide fans with all the essential information: including details of the ticket (such as its face value), the seller’s identity, and relevant details about the site’s own business practices
- Efficient reporting and takedown for tickets that are not permitted to be resold. If site users spot listings that are illegal, speculative or invalid then they should have a simple system of reporting, which sites should act on in a timely and effective manner
- Rules must apply to all marketplaces selling to EU customers or tickets to EU events, even if the business is based in a non-EU country, to prevent sites evading the law
- Establishment of a new EU watchdog to enforce the rules, and keep consumers and advertising platforms aware of marketplaces’ behaviour, via a public performance rating