To prohibit, as an unfair and deceptive act or practice in commerce, the sale or use of certain software to circumvent control measures used by Internet ticket sellers to ensure equitable consumer access to tickets for any given event, and for other purposes.
(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on September 9, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.)
Better On-line Ticket Sales Act of 2016 or the BOTS Act
(Sec. 2) This bill prohibits the sale of computer software that: (1) is primarily designed to circumvent technology that limits purchases made via an online ticket selling system, (2) has only a limited commercially significant purpose other than for such circumvention, or (3) is marketed to use for such circumvention.
The bill also prohibits the use of such circumvention software in violation of a system operator's posted limits on: (1) the quantity of tickets purchased by a single user; (2) the sequence, number, or frequency of transactions; or (3) the geographic location of transactions.
In addition, the bill makes it unlawful to resell in commerce tickets that were acquired through such a prohibited use of circumvention software if the reseller participated in, had the ability to control, or should have known about the violation.
It shall not be unlawful, however, to create or use software to: (1) investigate or further the enforcement or defense of any alleged violation of this bill, or (2) identify and analyze flaws and vulnerabilities of a computerized event ticketing system if these activities are conducted to advance the state of knowledge in the field of computer system security or to assist in the development of computer security products.
Violations shall be treated as unfair and deceptive acts or practices under the Federal Trade Commission Act.
The Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general may enforce against violations.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
Became Public Law No: 114-274.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade.
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote .
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 114-733.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 114-733.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 569.
checking server…
Ask anything about this bill. The AI reads the full text to answer.
Enter to send · Shift+Enter for new line
Mr. Burgess moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5292-5295)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5104.
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H5292-5293)
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5292-5293)
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.