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Ticketmaster Win Computer Scalper Case


10/16/07
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(PR) A federal judge in Los Angeles has ordered a Pennsylvania company to stop creating, trafficking in, or facilitating the use of computer programs that allow its clients to circumvent the protection systems in the ticketmaster.com Web site. These programs have, in effect, allowed ticket brokers to cut to the front of the line and deprive consumers of fair access to tickets.

The Order issued today by Judge Audrey B. Collins also bars RMG Technologies, Inc., of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from using information gained from access of Ticketmaster's website to create computer programs designed to circumvent Ticketmaster's copy protection and Web site regulation systems. RMG's software allows its clients to buy tickets from Ticketmaster faster than Ticketmaster's human customers can. RMG's clients are ticket brokers or suppliers to ticket brokers who use RMG's software to buy tickets they can resell to the public at higher prices. Such actions have blocked consumers from getting those tickets at the "face" price shown on the ticket. [That statement is more than a tad disingenuous as you can't get tickets at face value from Ticketmaster.com. For example two $49.50 Van Halen tickets came to $127.10 after all of the "fees". That works out to $28.10 over the "face" price for the "convenience" of buying from Ticketmaster. -ed]

Ticketmaster hailed Judge Collins' ruling as a major victory for the ticketing company and for consumers. Ticketmaster President and CEO Sean Moriarty commented after the ruling, "Ticketmaster is committed to ensuring that consumers have fair and equitable access to tickets. Not only are we doing everything possible to create a secure and positive experience for ticket purchasers, we are making sure that the public knows it can come to the Ticketmaster web site and access the best available seats at the prices set by the event provider. We will not allow others to illegally divert tickets away from fans. We recognize and respect the necessity and reality of a vibrant resale market, but we will not tolerate those who seek an unfair advantage through the use of automated programs."

Ticketmaster also indicated that Judge Collins' issuing of the preliminary injunction against RMG was only the first step in its legal efforts against those using automated programs to illegally access tickets.

"We are pleased with the court's ruling today, and our legal efforts are not stopping here," said Ed Weiss, Ticketmaster General Counsel and a former federal prosecutor. "Anyone using these programs and any company supplying them should know that we and the entire live entertainment industry will not stand for it. We fully support the legitimate reselling of tickets, but those who refuse to follow the rules will be hearing from us."

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