The FTC has released the final agenda for its June 11, 2019 workshop that will examine consumer protection issues related to the online event ticket marketplace.

The day-long workshop will feature four panel discussions.  The morning sessions will focus on ticket bots, the Better Online Ticket Sales Act (BOTS Act), and consumer protection issues around ticket availability.  The afternoon sessions will consider the adequacy of ticket price and fee disclosures and other ticketing practices that can cause consumer confusion.

The workshop will feature opening remarks by FTC Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter.  The FTC has previously indicated that the online event ticket industry has been a frequent topic of consumer and competitor complaints, with the issues arising in connection with online ticket sales frequently involving practices that prevent consumers from obtaining tickets, mislead consumers about price or availability, or mislead consumers about the entity from which they are purchasing.

Alan Kaplinsky, the leader of our Consumer Financial Services Group, and Mark Furletti, a partner in the Group, have given presentations this year to National Football League and Major League Baseball clubs about consumer financial services issues pertaining to the sale of season ticket plans.