#aadth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #cahc ,,an ,,act ,to prohibit the circumvention of control measures used by ,internet ticket sellers to ensure equitable consumer access to tickets for any given event1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,better ,online ,ticket ,sales ,act of #bjaf or the ,,bots ,act of #bjaf4 #b4 ,unfair and deceptive acts and practices relating to circumvention of ticket access control measures 7a7 ,conduct prohibited 7#a7 ,in general ,except as provided in paragraph 7#b71 it shall be unlawful for any person-- 7,a7 to circumvent a security measure1 access control system1 or other technological control or measure on an ,internet website or online service that is used by the ticket issuer to enforce posted event ticket purchasing limits or to maintain the integrity of posted online ticket purchasing order rules2 or 7,b7 to sell or offer to sell any event ticket in interstate commerce obtained in violation of subparagraph 7,a7 if the person selling or offering to sell the ticket either-- 7i7 participated directly in or had the ability to control the conduct in violation of subparagraph 7,a72 or 7ii7 knew or should have known that the event ticket was acquired in violation of subparagraph 7,a74 7#b7 ,exception ,it shall not be unlawful under this section for a person to create or use any computer software or system-- 7,a7 to investigate1 or further the enforcement or defense1 of any alleged violation of this section or other statute or regulation2 or 7,b7 to engage in research necessary to identify and analyze flaws and vulnerabilities of measures1 systems1 or controls described in paragraph 7#a77;,a71 if these research activities are conducted to advance the state of knowledge in the field of computer system security or to assist in the development of computer security product4 7b7 ,enforcement by the ,federal ,trade ,commission 7#a7 ,unfair or deceptive acts or practices ,a violation of subsection 7a7 shall be treated as a violation of a rule defining an unfair or a deceptive act or practice under section #ah7;a77#a77;,b7 of the ,federal ,trade ,commission ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #eg;a7a77#a77;,b774 7#b7 ,powers of ,commission 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,commission shall enforce this section in the same manner1 by the same means1 and with the same jurisdiction1 powers1 and duties as though all applicable terms and provisions of the ,federal ,trade ,commission ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #da et seq47 were incorporated into and made a part of this section4 7,b7 ,privileges and immunities ,any person who violates subsection 7a7 shall be subject to the penalties and entitled to the privileges and immunities provided in the ,federal ,trade ,commission ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #da et seq474 7,c7 ,authority preserved ,nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the authority of the ,federal ,trade ,commission under any other provision of law4 7c7 ,enforcement by ,states 7#a7 ,in general ,in any case in which the attorney general of a ,state has reason to believe that an interest of the residents of the ,state has been or is threatened or adversely affected by the engagement of any person subject to subsection 7a7 in a practice that violates such subsection1 the attorney general of the ,state may1 as parens patriae1 bring a civil action on behalf of the residents of the ,state in an appropriate district court of the ,united ,states-- 7,a7 to enjoin further violation of such subsection by such person2 7,b7 to compel compliance with such subsection2 and 7,c7 to obtain damages1 restitution1 or other compensation on behalf of such residents4 7#b7 ,rights of ,federal ,trade ,commission 7,a7 ,notice to ,federal ,trade ,commission 7i7 ,in general ,except as provided in clause 7iii71 the attorney general of a ,state shall notify the ,commission in writing that the attorney general intends to bring a civil action under paragraph 7#a7 not later than #aj days before initiating the civil action4 7ii7 ,contents ,the notification required by clause 7i7 with respect to a civil action shall include a copy of the complaint to be filed to initiate the civil action4 7iii7 ,exception ,if it is not feasible for the attorney general of a ,state to provide the notification required by clause 7i7 before initiating a civil action under paragraph 7#a71 the attorney general shall notify the ,commission immediately upon instituting the civil action4 7,b7 ,intervention by ,federal ,trade ,commission ,the ,commission may-- 7i7 intervene in any civil action brought by the attorney general of a ,state under paragraph 7#a72 and 7ii7 upon intervening-- 7,i7 be heard on all matters arising in the civil action2 and 7,,ii7 file petitions for appeal of a decision in the civil action4 7#c7 ,investigatory powers ,nothing in this subsection may be construed to prevent the attorney general of a ,state from exercising the powers conferred on the attorney general by the laws of the ,state to conduct investigations1 to administer oaths or affirmations1 or to compel the attendance of witnesses or the production of documentary or other evidence4 7#d7 ,preemptive action by ,federal ,trade ,commission ,if the ,commission institutes a civil action or an administrative action with respect to a violation of subsection 7a71 the attorney general of a ,state may not1 during the pendency of such action1 bring a civil action under paragraph 7#a7 against any defendant named in the complaint of the ,commission for the violation with respect to which the ,commission instituted such action4 7#e7 ,venue2 service of process 7,a7 ,venue ,any action brought under paragraph 7#a7 may be brought in-- 7i7 the district court of the ,united ,states that meets applicable requirements relating to venue under section #acia of title #bh1 ,united ,states ,code2 or 7ii7 another court of competent jurisdiction4 7,b7 ,service of process ,in an action brought under paragraph 7#a71 process may be served in any district in which the defendant-- 7i7 is an inhabitant2 or 7ii7 may be found4 7#f7 ,actions by other ,state officials 7,a7 ,in general ,in addition to civil actions brought by attorneys general under paragraph 7#a71 any other consumer protection officer of a ,state who is authorized by the ,state to do so may bring a civil action under paragraph 7#a71 subject to the same requirements and limitations that apply under this subsection to civil actions brought by attorneys general4 7,b7 ,savings provision ,nothing in this subsection may be construed to prohibit an authorized official of a ,state from initiating or continuing any proceeding in a court of the ,state for a violation of any civil or criminal law of the ,state4 #c4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,commission ,the term ,commission means the ,federal ,trade ,commission4 7#b7 ,event ,the term event means any concert1 theatrical performance1 sporting event1 show1 or similarly scheduled activity1 taking place in a venue with a seating or attendance capacity exceeding #bjj persons that-- 7,a7 is open to the general public2 and 7,b7 is promoted1 advertised1 or marketed in interstate commerce or for which event tickets are generally sold or distributed in interstate commerce4 7#c7 ,event ticket ,the term event ticket means any physical1 electronic1 or other form of a certificate1 document1 voucher1 token1 or other evidence indicating that the bearer1 possessor1 or person entitled to possession through purchase or otherwise has-- 7,a7 a right1 privilege1 or license to enter an event venue or occupy a particular seat or area in an event venue with respect to one or more events2 or 7,b7 an entitlement to purchase such a right1 privilege1 or license with respect to one or more future events4 7#d7 ,ticket issuer ,the term ticket issuer means any person who makes event tickets available1 directly or indirectly1 to the general public1 and may include-- 7,a7 the operator of the venue2 7,b7 the sponsor or promoter of an event2 7,c7 a sports team participating in an event or a league whose teams are participating in an event2 7,d7 a theater company1 musical group1 or similar participant in an event2 and 7,e7 an agent for any such person4 ,passed the ,senate ,november #cj1 #bjaf4,secretary