US ticket resale companies have sued Washington, D.C. over a new law that caps resale prices at 110 per cent of the original price
SeatGeek, Vivid Seats, Gametime, TickPick and the Ticket Policy Forum filed the suit in federal court on 14 October, arguing the district’s RESALE Act is unconstitutional.
The law was passed on 25 September and its restrictions start on 1 January 2027. It caps resale prices for covered live entertainment tickets at 110 per cent of the original purchase price, including fees and taxes, and lets marketplaces add a further service fee of up to 10 per cent. Primary market ticket prices and fees are not capped.
The plaintiffs argue the district cannot regulate transactions that happen outside its borders, that the fee cap could force losses, and that the requirement to disclose original ticket prices compels speech they cannot verify. They have asked for a preliminary injunction and a ruling by 10 December.
The National Independent Venue Association has criticised the lawsuit, pointing to $13.9 million in advertised resale listings for September.
The ALMBC supports a cap on resale price as well as outlawing companies using bots to buy up tickets for immediate resale.
