Stuart WoodNew legislation coming into force today will ban the use of automated software to buy large quantities of tickets for events.
The legislation is intended to prevent ticket scalping, where bots are used to buy tickets which are then sold on at inflated prices. Anyone caught breaking this law will face an unlimited fine.
Artists including Ed Sheeran, Arctic Monkeys, Pixies, The Charlatans and Iron Maiden have recently put measures in place to combat ticket bots, and give real fans the chance to buy tickets for their shows.
Digital and creative industries minister Margot James said: “Fans deserve the chance to see their favourite artists at a fair price. Too often they have been priced out of the market due to unscrupulous touts buying up huge batches of tickets and selling them on at ridiculous prices.
“From today I am pleased to say that we have successfully banned the bots. We are giving the power back to consumer to help make 2018 a great year for Britain’s booming events scene.”
Annabella Coldrick, chief executive of the music managers forum, said: “The new changes to the law including banning bots will help increase the chance of tickets getting into the hands of fans.
“These changes have the potential to have a global impact and the US is now looking to UK consumer law to help clean up its own ticketing market.”