Will Hannah Montana Madness Lead to Tough New Anti-Scalping Laws? --The Hollywood Reporter | Esq. | Entertainment and Media Law

« PiracyWatch: Regulators and Consumers Pushing Back Against ISP Monitoring | Main | Photographer Wrestles with National Geographic Over Anthology Re-use »


February 28, 2008

Will Hannah Montana Madness Lead to Tough New Anti-Scalping Laws?

Posted by Eriq Gardner

Hannamontana Someday, we may all look back wistfully on the early 21st Century fad known as Hannah Montana. But until then, pop singer-slash-TV-star Miley Cyrus is shaking up the world of ticket retail. No, we're not talking about that class action suit filed a few months ago from the outraged parents of Montana fans who bought a $29.95 club membership to get concert tickets that never materialized.

In this case, a Hannah Montana "ticket crisis" is prompting state governments like Tennessee's to consider new laws that would prohibit the use of software “bots” to buy up large chunks of concert tickets.

If passed in Tennessee, violators who purchase tickets unfairly will be subject to a Class B misdemeanor, which would be punishable by a fine of $500 or the amount for which tickets are re-sold. Might we suggest an additional punishment: listening to a Hannah Montana album.

I've read a number of other blog posts on this same topic, and I've found it fascinating the degree of effort and trouble that people have gone through for the sake of these tickets, and the various difficulties in obtaining them. As for me personally, I'm content to listen to her music from my home.

Post a comment

If you have a TypeKey or TypePad account, please Sign In.

TrackBack

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d83451d69069e200e5508975eb8833

Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Will Hannah Montana Madness Lead to Tough New Anti-Scalping Laws? :

The Hollywood Reporter



The Hollywood Reporter
Contact: Nicole Fairres at 323.525.2025 or nicole.fairres@thr.com


The Hollywood Reporter is Your Complete Film Resource

The columnists and bloggers who write for The Hollywood Reporter have their collective finger on the pulse of the boxoffice. From Robert Osbourne to Martin Grove and the rest, THR columnists deliver their thoughts on the film industry in an uncompromised style. Subscribe to THR today and get the latest views from these film experts and get the latest movie reviews as well.