The Speculative Ticketing Oversight and Prohibition Act of 2023, known as the STOP Act, would ban the practice of selling event tickets that a seller does not actually possess. Beginning 180 days after the law takes effect, ticket sellers and resale platforms would be prohibited from offering or advertising tickets they don't have in hand, with limited exceptions for legitimate ticket-procurement services that are clearly labeled and separated from actual ticket sales. The bill also targets deceptive websites by requiring ticket sellers to clearly disclose when they operate secondary markets, preventing them from falsely claiming affiliation with venues or artists, and prohibiting domain names that misleadingly incorporate the names of teams, venues, performers, or events without authorization. Additionally, the law would require full refunds to consumers if events are canceled or postponed, with clear disclosure of refund policies before purchase. The Federal Trade Commission would enforce these rules as violations of unfair or deceptive practices, and the agency must report to Congress within six months on its enforcement of the existing Better Online Ticket Sales Act of 2016.
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