http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2009/04/29/ont-ticketmaster.html
Ontario is going to try to stop the resale of tickets by Ticketmaster and its subsidiary TicketsNow.
Legislation amending Ontario's Ticket Speculation Act will "help ensure that Ontario consumers have fair access to entertainment tickets," according to a news release Wednesday from the province's attorney general.
Canadian concert-goers were outraged earlier this year when Ticketmaster said it had run out of tickets for certain events, but they were available at inflated prices from TicketsNow.
The opposition NDP isn't impressed. It says the legislation won't have much impact on what already is an illegal activity.
"Scalping has been illegal for decades," said NDP critic Peter Kormos. "Why won't the government simply enforce the law?"
Selling tickets for more than their face value has always been against the law.
But that didn't stop Ticketmaster from redirecting people who wanted tickets to see top performers like Leonard Cohen, AC/DC, or Bruce Springsteen to TicketsNow, where they'd be charged as much as $2,500 for a ticket worth about $100.
Attorney General Chris Bentley said it was up to the police to lay charges. But that didn't happen.
Now the province is introducing legislation to stop Ticketmaster from sending customers to TicketsNow for higher-priced tickets.
"The law with respect to selling tickets above face value has not changed. This addresses the issue where the primary and secondary seller are related," said Bentley
The minister said he is hoping to get the legislation passed before the busy summer concert season.
But the law does nothing to stop resale sites that aren't related to companies like Ticketmaster.
Kormos said the government can pass all the legislation it wants but it isn't going to stop people from getting ripped off.
There's been no reaction from Ticketmaster.
Good job Canada! :clap:
I've always liked you guys. Seems pretty chill up there. :-)
Matt, your province has definitely GOT a pair when it comes to stepping up to the plate on issues like this. Wish I could say the same for us. :roll:
+k Ontario! :-D
Quote from: mattstick on April 30, 2009, 07:36:16 PM
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2009/04/29/ont-ticketmaster.html
But the law does nothing to stop resale sites that aren't related to companies like Ticketmaster.
Kormos said the government can pass all the legislation it wants but it isn't going to stop people from getting ripped off.
There's been no reaction from Ticketmaster.
Excellent idea. Unfortunately the last 3 lines are the bummer here. But kudos for starting the process!