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- calendar_today October 14, 2026
Ticket Resellers Take Legal Action Against DC's RESALE Act
Several ticket reselling companies have filed a lawsuit against the District of Columbia in federal court in an effort to stop the implementation of a new law that would introduce stricter limits on ticket resale. The Ticket Policy Forum, representing well-known platforms such as SeatGeek, Vivid Seats, Gametime, and TickPick, is seeking an injunction to block the RESALE Act from taking effect on January 1, 2027. The plaintiffs argue that the law would disrupt the existing ticket resale market and make it more challenging for consumers to access tickets through major secondary marketplaces.
Overview of the RESALE Act
The RESALE Act was approved by the DC Council in July 2026, with Ward 6 Council member Charles Allen spearheading the effort. The legislation is designed to reduce ticket scalping by introducing several new requirements and restrictions for ticket resales. Under the law, tickets can generally not be resold for more than 10% above the original price, establishing a resale price cap intended to combat price gouging and make ticket sales more transparent for consumers. The law also mandates upfront disclosure of any additional fees and prohibits speculative ticket sales, which occur when brokers list tickets for sale before actually owning them.
Arguments in Favor of the Law
Supporters of the RESALE Act claim the measures are necessary for consumer protection and fairer access to live events. Council member Charles Allen defended the regulation, asserting, "I introduced this law because companies like the ones behind this lawsuit are gouging D.C. residents using technology to scoop up as many live music tickets as they can and resell them at inflated prices—a scam that's been extremely lucrative for them for years." Venue operators like I.M.P. have also supported the law, stating that ticket scalping has led to higher prices and has made it harder for fans to attend concerts and shows.
Ticket Resellers Respond to DC's Regulation
The Ticket Policy Forum, led by executive director Brian Berry, has voiced strong opposition to several aspects of the RESALE Act. Berry claims the new law unfairly targets secondary marketplaces, while exempting Ticketmaster, which handles the majority of initial ticket sales via exclusive box office contracts. "The fact that the council positioned this bill as a way to make tickets more affordable is a bit of a joke when you consider 90% or more of tickets are sold by Ticketmaster, you know, through its box office ticketing contracts, and they are exempt," Berry said. He argued that the ticketmaster exemption creates a major loophole, undermining the stated goals of ticket resale regulation.
Concerns Over Implementation and Market Impact
According to Berry, the resale price cap and related fee limitations could force companies to lose money on lower-priced ticket sales. For instance, if fees on a $40 ticket are limited to $4, resellers may not be able to cover basic costs like payment processing, customer support, and fraud protection. Berry warned that, if resale companies exit the DC market due to the new restrictions, more ticket transactions may move to informal or less-regulated venues like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist, where buyers have little recourse in cases of fraud. While Berry acknowledged positive aspects of the law, such as the requirements for upfront pricing disclosure and bans on speculative ticket sales, he contended that the legislation's negative effects outweigh these benefits.
Next Steps and Ongoing Legal Proceedings
The lawsuit asks the federal court to prevent the law from taking effect while the legal challenge is ongoing. The DC Office of the Attorney General declined to comment on the pending litigation. As the legal dispute moves forward, the future of DC's approach to ticket resale limits, consumer protection, and secondary marketplaces will be determined by the courts.
Source: wtop.com.
