Muda Wants Legislation To Prevent Online Bulk Purchase Of Event Tickets

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The government should enact legislation to prevent parties from using bots to purchase event tickets in bulk online, said Muda lawyer Lim Wei Jiet.
This comes after many complained about having been in the queue to purchase Coldplay tickets via the online ticketing system only to be beaten by automated bots.
Reports have since surfaced of scalpers reselling Coldplay concert tickets at exorbitant prices.
In a post on Twitter today, Lim pointed out that scalping and using bots to buy tickets in bulk is not technically illegal in Malaysia.
“But we should definitely enact legislation.
“US has the Better Online Ticket Sales (Bots) Act 2016, which punishes parties that automate purchasing tickets en masse using ticket bots,” said the Muda co-founder.
Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil yesterday said he would raise the issue of scalping of Coldplay concert tickets with the domestic trade and cost of living minister.
He was responding to an alleged advertisement of a “Cat 1” ticket, originally priced at RM1,288, being resold for RM43,200.
According to organisers GoLive Asia, Coldplay tickets were on a pre-sale for CIMB customers on Tuesday, attracting 400,000 buyers.
This overwhelmed the ticketing website and many waited hours before being able to buy a ticket.
There were no limits on the number of tickets individuals could buy. There was also no system to ensure that the tickets were non-transferable.
Coldplay is a multi-platinum and multi-award-winning British band that will be holding a concert in Malaysia for the first time in November as part of its Music of the Spheres World Tour.
- Mkini

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