Canada: Issued ruling in CBC Investigation into TicketNetwork over alleged misleading advertising

On 21 November 2023, TicketNetwork agreed to a settlement with the Canadian Competition Bureau (CBC) to resolve issues related to misleading advertising practices in its online ticket resale business. The agreement follows a Bureau investigation that found that TicketNetwork engaged in drip pricing by advertising unattainable ticket prices and discounts and failing to disclose additional mandatory fees that significantly raised the final price. The company also inaccurately advertised tickets for Canadian events in US dollars without clear currency identification and misled consumers with digital marketing that suggested direct purchasing from venues or artists. As part of the settlement, TicketNetwork will pay a penalty of CAD 825’000, cease drip pricing and deceptive promotions, clearly indicate the currency in pricing, and will not misrepresent the nature of its resale websites. Additionally, the company is mandated to establish a compliance program to ensure adherence to legal advertising standards.