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Ticketmaster Faces FTC Lawsuit Over Alleged Ticket Resale Practices
ByAinvest
Thursday, Aug 21, 2025 7:06 am ET1min read
Ticketmaster faces a lawsuit from the FTC over allegations of violating laws to bulk-buy high-demand tickets and resell them at a markup. The lawsuit comes after a disastrous on-sale launch for Taylor Swift's Eras Tour, which crashed Ticketmaster's servers. The company's near-monopoly on live event ticket sales has been a cause for concern within the industry for years.
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has filed a lawsuit against Ticketmaster, alleging that the company violated laws to bulk-buy high-demand tickets and resell them at a markup. The lawsuit comes after a disastrous on-sale launch for Taylor Swift's Eras Tour, which crashed Ticketmaster's servers [1]. The company's near-monopoly on live event ticket sales has been a cause for concern within the industry for years.The FTC complaint, filed in Maryland federal court, accuses Ticketmaster of using thousands of fake or purchased accounts to buy up thousands of tickets to live events, including the Taylor Swift Eras tour, and resell them at a markup. The complaint also alleges that Ticketmaster circumvented purchasing limits to buy up thousands of tickets for resale [2].
The lawsuit is part of a crackdown announced by President Donald Trump in March focused on curbing exploitative ticket reselling practices that raise costs for fans [3]. The FTC is seeking civil penalties and a permanent injunction against Ticketmaster to halt these practices.
Ticketmaster and its parent company, Live Nation Entertainment (LYV), are facing a separate lawsuit brought by U.S. antitrust enforcers accusing the company of monopolizing markets across the live concert industry [1]. The FTC's action now targets secondary market players, signaling a tougher stance on enforcement.
The lawsuit highlights the broader implications for the ticketing industry. Industry insiders point out that such reselling operations thrive on the scarcity of premium events. The FTC's action may influence how platforms and resellers operate, potentially leading to more equitable access for fans eager to attend blockbuster tours without facing exorbitant secondary prices [3].
The case raises questions about balancing profit with consumer protection. As the case progresses, it may set precedents for handling similar issues in other entertainment sectors, ensuring that technology doesn't undermine fair play in ticket distribution [2].
References:
[1] https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/18/business/ftc-taylor-swift-eras-tour
[2] https://www.webpronews.com/ftc-sues-firm-over-bots-scooping-taylor-swift-tickets-for-resale/
[3] https://liveforlivemusic.com/news/ftc-sues-ticket-broker-millions-off-taylor-swift-eras-tour/
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