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State Representative Joe Atkins

583 State Office BuildingState Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4192

For more information contact: Matt Swenson 651-297-8406

Posted: 2008-04-21 00:00:00
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HOUSE APPROVES MEASURE TO OUTLAW ONLINE TICKET BULLYING


ST. PAUL – Last summer's Miley Cyrus ticket debacle grabbed the attention of House Commerce and Labor Committee chairman, Rep. Joe Atkins. Atkins crafted legislation (HF 2911/SF3139) that makes using software to cut to the head of the line ahead of other legitimate buyers a crime in Minnesota. The bill passed the Minnesota House of Representatives today by a 119-12 vote, after passing the Senate last week. The Senate is expected to re-pass the measure, with a small language change made by the House, and send it to the governor this week.

"Minnesota kids are getting elbowed out of the way by what has become the 21st Century's version of a bully," said Rep. Atkins. "These ticket bullies are cutting in line to pick up all the good tickets before legitimate buyers can get them. We wouldn't allow that in the real world, and it shouldn't be allowed on the Internet either."

Certain software has allowed professional ticket buyers to buy up large quantities of tickets so quickly that ticket supplies for popular concerts, like Hannah Montana, are now being sold out in just minutes. Atkins' bill would make it a misdemeanor to use or sell software to circumvent on a ticket seller's Web site a security measure, an access control system, or a control or measure that is used to ensure an equitable ticket buying process.

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