# D.C. Defends RESALE Act Against Industry Lawsuit District officials argue ticket price caps protect consumers from excessive secondary market markups. - **Source:** [Billboard](https://www.billboard.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-10 - **Topic:** [politics](https://brifing.si/c/politics) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/ea7ac6a5-e189-4567-8177-8b482ab396ab ## Legal Battle Over Pricing The District of Columbia is defending its Restricting Egregious Scalping Against Live Entertainment Act against a lawsuit from major secondary marketplaces. Companies including SeatGeek, Vivid Seats, TickPick, and Gametime filed the suit to block the law, which is scheduled for enforcement in 2027, claiming it is unconstitutional and harms their business operations. ## The RESALE Act Provisions The legislation limits secondary ticket price markups to 10 percent above the original face value. D.C. officials argue this cap is a necessary measure to protect residents from soaring costs. The law also mandates that resellers display the original ticket price alongside the resale rate to ensure transparency for all potential buyers. ## Industry Claims of Harm The Ticket Policy Forum argues that the 10 percent cap forces companies to operate at a loss. They claim the law violates the dormant Commerce Clause and the First Amendment by compelling speech. Furthermore, the group warns that these restrictions will drive sales to the black market, increasing risks of fraud for fans. ## Government Response to Plaintiffs D.C. Attorney General’s Office dismissed the industry's claims as meritless and unnecessary. Government lawyers stated that the interests of the public in affordable entertainment outweigh the pecuniary interests of multi-billion-dollar corporations. They argued that these companies can easily absorb potential losses while the litigation proceeds through the federal court system. ## Democratic Process vs Litigation District attorneys noted that the RESALE Act sailed through local government and congressional approval despite intense lobbying from resellers. They characterized the lawsuit as an attempt to secure a judicial veto after the industry failed to stop the bill through the democratic process. The city maintains the law is fully constitutional. ## First Amendment Dispute Resellers argue that requiring them to list original face value costs constitutes unlawful compelled speech. D.C. officials countered that this argument strains credulity, asserting that original pricing is essential for consumer informed decision-making. Without this information, the district claims buyers cannot accurately assess the true value of the resold ticket. ## Broader Legislative Trends D.C. is one of over a dozen local governments attempting to regulate ticket resale prices. Similar laws have already passed in Maine and Vermont, while statehouses in Massachusetts, New York, and Tennessee are currently considering comparable bills. Conversely, a proposed resale cap recently failed in the California legislature after significant industry lobbying. ## Upcoming Judicial Hearing A federal court hearing is scheduled for November 19 to address the motion for an injunction. The outcome will determine if the RESALE Act can proceed toward its 2027 implementation date. Both the District and the coalition of ticket marketplaces are preparing to present their final arguments regarding the law's constitutional validity. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.billboard.com/pro/dc-defends-ticket-resale-cap-lawsuit-seatgeek/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._