BOTS Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3183
Sponsor: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS]
Introduced: 2016-07-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Competition and antitrust
Computers and information technology
Consumer affairs
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Retail and wholesale trades

Summary:
action_date: 2016-07-13
text: 

Better Online Ticket Sales Act of 2016 or the BOTS Act of 2016

 
This bill prohibits: (1) the circumvention of a security measure or access control system on an Internet website of a ticket issuer that is used to enforce event ticket purchasing limits or to maintain the integrity of online ticket purchasing order rules, or (2) offers to sell an event ticket in interstate commerce knowingly obtained through such a circumvention violation.
 
Violations shall be treated as unfair or deceptive acts or practices under the Federal Trade Commission Act.
 
The bill provides authority to the Federal Trade Commission and states to enforce against such violations. 

action_date: 2016-09-27
text: 

Better Online Ticket Sales Act of 2016 or the BOTS Act of 2016

 
(Sec. 2) This bill prohibits the circumvention of a security measure, access control system, or other technological measure on an Internet website or online service of a ticket issuer that is used to enforce posted event ticket purchasing limits or to maintain the integrity of posted online ticket purchasing order rules for a public event with an attendance capacity exceeding 200 persons.
 
The bill also prohibits the sale of or offers to sell an event ticket in interstate commerce obtained through such a circumvention violation if the seller 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 or systems to: (1) investigate, or further the enforcement or defense of, alleged violations; or (2) identify and analyze flaws and vulnerabilities of security measures 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 or deceptive acts or practices under the Federal Trade Commission Act.
 
The bill provides authority to the Federal Trade Commission and states to enforce against such violations. 

action_date: 2016-11-30
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on September 27, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.)
 

Better Online Ticket Sales Act of 2016 or the BOTS Act of 2016

 
(Sec. 2) This bill prohibits the circumvention of a security measure, access control system, or other technological measure on an Internet website or online service of a ticket issuer that is used to enforce posted event ticket purchasing limits or to maintain the integrity of posted online ticket purchasing order rules for a public event with an attendance capacity exceeding 200 persons.
 
The bill also prohibits the sale of or offers to sell an event ticket in interstate commerce obtained through such a circumvention violation if the seller 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 or systems to: (1) investigate, or further the enforcement or defense of, alleged violations; or (2) identify and analyze flaws and vulnerabilities of security measures 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 or deceptive acts or practices under the Federal Trade Commission Act.
 
The bill provides authority to the Federal Trade Commission and states to enforce against such violations. 

action_date: 2016-12-07
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on September 27, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.)
 

Better Online Ticket Sales Act of 2016 or the BOTS Act of 2016

 
(Sec. 2) This bill prohibits the circumvention of a security measure, access control system, or other technological measure on an Internet website or online service of a ticket issuer that is used to enforce posted event ticket purchasing limits or to maintain the integrity of posted online ticket purchasing order rules for a public event with an attendance capacity exceeding 200 persons.
 
The bill also prohibits the sale of or offers to sell an event ticket in interstate commerce obtained through such a circumvention violation if the seller 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 or systems to: (1) investigate, or further the enforcement or defense of, alleged violations; or (2) identify and analyze flaws and vulnerabilities of security measures 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 or deceptive acts or practices under the Federal Trade Commission Act.
 
The bill provides authority to the Federal Trade Commission and states to enforce against such violations. 

action_date: 2016-12-14
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on September 27, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.)
 

Better Online Ticket Sales Act of 2016 or the BOTS Act of 2016

 
(Sec. 2) This bill prohibits the circumvention of a security measure, access control system, or other technological measure on an Internet website or online service of a ticket issuer that is used to enforce posted event ticket purchasing limits or to maintain the integrity of posted online ticket purchasing order rules for a public event with an attendance capacity exceeding 200 persons.
 
The bill also prohibits the sale of or offers to sell an event ticket in interstate commerce obtained through such a circumvention violation if the seller 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 or systems to: (1) investigate, or further the enforcement or defense of, alleged violations; or (2) identify and analyze flaws and vulnerabilities of security measures 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 or deceptive acts or practices under the Federal Trade Commission Act.
 
The bill provides authority to the Federal Trade Commission and states to enforce against such violations. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-14
text: Became Public Law No: 114-274.
action_date: 2016-12-14
text: Became Public Law No: 114-274.
action_date: 2016-12-14
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2016-12-14
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2016-12-12
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2016-12-12
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: On passage Passed without objection. (text: CR H7326-7327)
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed without objection.(text: CR H7326-7327)
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: Mrs. Blackburn asked unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table and consider.
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: Considered by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR H7326-7327)
action_date: 2016-12-05
text: By Senator Thune from Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation filed written report. Report No. 114-391.
action_date: 2016-12-05
text: By Senator Thune from Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation filed written report. Report No. 114-391.
action_date: 2016-12-01
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2016-12-01
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2016-12-01
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2016-11-30
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6626-6627; text as passed Senate: CR S6626-6627)
action_date: 2016-11-30
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S6626-6627; text as passed Senate: CR S6626-6627)
action_date: 2016-09-27
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 648.
action_date: 2016-09-27
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Thune with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2016-09-27
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Thune with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2016-09-21
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2016-09-13
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Senate Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, Insurance, and Data Security. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 114-614.
action_date: 2016-07-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2016-07-13
text: Introduced in Senate

Enacted as: number: 114-274