Supreme Court rules anti-scalping laws apply to Ticketmaster

Ticketmaster and like agencies may come under fire following an Arkansas Supreme Court decision on Thursday that ruled the online site and similar cohorts come under the state’s anti-scalping law.

According to Arkansas News, the 4-3 ruling affirmed allegations that Ticketmaster’s additional fees tacked onto advertised prices falls under the purview of the Deceptive Trade Practices Act. The question was posed in a federal class action lawsuit against the agency after an Arkadelphia man filed suit seeking restitution for paying $55 to Ticketmaster as opposed to the $42.75 advertised price for a Jason Aldean concert.

Despite Ticketmaster’s argument that the state mandate applies to scalpers and not an agency with an exclusive contract to sell the facility’s tickets, Justice Karen Baker wrote, “The statute is specifically applicable to any ‘person, corporation, firm or partnership’ and does not exclude exclusive ticket agents.”