Ticketmaster is one of the largest ticket sales and distribution companies in the world. They sell tickets for concerts, sports events, theater shows and more. Ticketmaster has exclusive contracts with many venues and artists to be the official ticket provider.
This gives Ticketmaster a lot of control over ticket sales. They can set prices, fees, and terms of service. One of their terms is prohibiting the unauthorized resale of tickets. To enforce this, Ticketmaster uses technology to monitor and restrict unapproved ticket sales.
What are bypass links?
Bypass links are specialized URLs that redirect around Ticketmaster’s sales controls. Third-party ticket resellers use bypass links to disguise unapproved sales.
For example, normally Ticketmaster requires customers to go through the buying process on their site. This enforces limits on ticket quantities and transferring tickets. Bypass links bypass the Ticketmaster platform and directly list tickets for resale.
Bypass links redirect to resale marketplaces like StubHub or Vivid Seats. So customers don’t have to deal with Ticketmaster’s sales controls. The links provide access directly to resale tickets.
How do bypass links work?
Bypass links take advantage of redirects and masking techniques. They are designed to hide the unapproved ticket sales from Ticketmaster.
There are a few common methods:
- Obfuscated URLs – The redirect URL is disguised using random strings or encoded characters.
- Direct IP redirects – The link redirects to the IP address of the resale site to avoid domain name detection.
- Chain redirects – The link goes through multiple hops and third-party redirect services to hide the final destination.
- Link shorteners – URL shortening services like bit.ly or tinyurl hide the underlying redirect URL.
These tricks aim to prevent Ticketmaster from recognizing the bypass links and blocking them. Theoretically, the redirects happen quickly enough that Ticketmaster’s systems can’t follow and analyze them.
Can Ticketmaster detect these bypass links?
Ticketmaster has gotten more sophisticated at detecting and blocking bypass links. They identify and disable millions of bypass links each year. But the battle continues as resellers find new tricks.
Here are some methods Ticketmaster uses against bypass links:
URL Pattern Recognition
Ticketmaster trains machine learning models on listing data from unauthorized resellers. The models learn to recognize patterns in bypass link formats. New links can be checked against these patterns to detect bypass links.
IP Blocking
Ticketmaster maintains a blacklist of known resale sites. When bypass links redirect traffic to a blocked IP, they get flagged. However, resellers can change IPs to get around this.
Destination Site Detection
Similar to IP blocking, Ticketmaster blocks traffic going to domains of known resale sites. But this can also be circumvented by using different domains.
Analyzing Redirect Chains
Ticketmaster follows multi-hop redirect chains to uncover the final landing site. If it ends up on a blocked domain, the original link is blocked.
Account Tracking
Ticketmaster monitors accounts connected to bypass link creation. Usage patterns and purchase histories help identify reseller accounts for blocking.
Link Encryption
Encrypted or obfuscated URLs can be detected by analyzing URL patterns. Models look for non-random strings and decryption keys.
Takedown Requests
Ticketmaster issues DMCA takedown notices to platforms hosting bypass links. Search engines, social media, and URL shorteners may comply to remove detected bypass links.
Can resellers stay ahead of detection?
Despite Ticketmaster’s efforts, bypass links remain widely available. Resellers continuously adapt to new detection methods. Some of the tactics they use include:
- Rapid link rotation – Links are changed faster than Ticketmaster can catalog and block them.
- Using obscure redirect services – Small redirect platforms fly under Ticketmaster’s radar.
- Generating randomized links – String randomization hides URL patterns from detection.
- Obfuscating final destinations – Domain rotation, proxy sites, and other tricks hide landing sites.
- Spreading links quietly – Restricted promotion through emails, forums, DMs avoids public takedowns.
It has become an arms race between Ticketmaster and resellers. As each side becomes more advanced, the other adapts new tricks. This allows bypass links to persist cat-and-mouse style.
What legal risks do bypass links carry?
Bypass links exist in a legal gray area. Ticketmaster prohibits them through terms of service. But their legal standing is uncertain.
Potential issues include:
- Copyright violation – Redirecting traffic away from Ticketmaster could be considered copyright infringement or IP theft.
- Circumvention – Bypassing sales restrictions could violate anti-circumvention laws under the DMCA.
- Unauthorized access – Gaining entry to ticket sales using bypass links may equate to hacking or unauthorized access under cybercrime laws.
- Deceptive practices – Using misleading links, cloaking, etc. could qualify as fraudulent business practices.
To date, there are not many legal precedents regarding bypass links. Major cases have not made it to court. Both sides likely want to avoid risky legal battles calling attention to the issue. But the legal risks remain if Ticketmaster wanted to pursue them more aggressively.
Conclusion
Ticketmaster devotes significant resources to uncovering bypass links from unauthorized ticket resellers. Their methods have become advanced, identifying millions of bypass links annually. But equally sophisticated resellers manage to stay one step ahead, using ingenious tricks to hide bypass links from detection.
This technological back-and-forth seems poised to continue as both sides race to outmaneuver the other. Meanwhile, the vague legal status of bypass links creates uncertainty around the risks of using them. While fans eagerly purchase tickets, the cat-and-mouse game plays on behind the scenes.