FTC ticket-resale case developments hit a key stage this week. Ticketmaster and Live Nation asked a federal judge in Los Angeles to dismiss the lawsuit.
The FTC ticket-resale case was filed by the Federal Trade Commission and seven states. The suit targets how tickets move from the primary sale to resale. ([Federal Trade Commission][2])
What Ticketmaster and Live Nation are asking for
In the FTC ticket-resale case, the companies told U.S. District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong to throw out the claims. They argue the key federal law does not apply to them. ([Reuters][1])
They point to the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act. The motion says the BOTS Act targets resellers who evade anti-bot tools. It does not target ticketing platforms, they argue. ([Reuters][1])
What regulators allege in the FTC ticket-resale case
The FTC ticket-resale case says Ticketmaster let brokers break artist-set ticket limits. Regulators say those limits were marketed as strict. They claim brokers still exceeded them at scale. ([Federal Trade Commission][2])
Regulators also say Ticketmaster profited from the resale flow. Reuters reported the FTC and states alleged Ticketmaster earned $3.7 billion in resale fees from 2019 to 2024. ([Reuters][1])
The FTC also alleges deceptive pricing and misleading claims. In its press release, the agency said consumers paid more through markups and added fees. It said the conduct cost consumers billions over time. ([Federal Trade Commission][2])
The defense: why the companies say the case fails
In the FTC ticket-resale case, Ticketmaster says the BOTS Act is being stretched. Reuters reported Ticketmaster argued that resellers, not Ticketmaster, sell the tickets listed on its resale platform. ([Reuters][1])
Ticketmaster also argues that purchase limits are not “technological measures” covered by the statute. That matters because the BOTS Act bans bypassing anti-bot tools and bans selling tickets obtained that way. ([Reuters][1])
So the legal fight is narrow but important. The FTC ticket-resale case turns on who the law reaches. It also turns on what counts as a protected limit.
Why this matters for fans, artists, and fees
The FTC ticket-resale case puts fee economics on trial. Regulators argue the platform can benefit twice. It can collect fees on the first sale and again on resale. ([Federal Trade Commission][2])
The agency also argues consumers were misled. It says artists and fans were told limits were strict, yet brokers still stocked up. ([Federal Trade Commission][3])
Ticketmaster’s market role raises the stakes. Reuters cited an FTC estimate that Ticketmaster controls up to 80% of concert ticketing for major venues. The FTC also said consumers spent more than $82.6 billion buying tickets from Ticketmaster from 2019 to 2024. ([Reuters][1])
Broader pressure on Live Nation and Ticketmaster
The FTC ticket-resale case is not happening in isolation. Reuters noted the companies face a separate U.S. Justice Department case that accuses them of monopolizing parts of the live concert industry. That case is set for trial in March 2026, Reuters reported. ([Reuters][1])
Public trust is also part of the backdrop. Reuters recalled the 2022 Taylor Swift Eras Tour sale, when high demand and bot traffic overwhelmed systems and fueled backlash. ([Reuters][1])
What to watch next
First, watch the judge’s next scheduling steps. A motion to dismiss can narrow claims or end a case. It can also set the tone for discovery.
Second, watch how the court treats platform responsibility. If the FTC ticket-resale case survives, platforms may face tighter duties around limits and broker behavior.
Third, watch for policy changes outside court. The FTC has framed ticketing as a consumer cost issue. Its chair said tickets “should not cost an arm and a leg.” ([Federal Trade Commission][2])
Bottom line
The FTC ticket-resale case tests a simple question with big effects. Can a ticketing platform be liable when brokers evade limits and resell on its system?
A dismissal would be a major win for Ticketmaster and Live Nation. A loss would push the fight into evidence, emails, and economics.