VIP NEWS > INDEPTH STORY >
APRIL 2019
Europe Votes Manfred Tari mt@vip-booking.com Elections may be described as the upload
scandal of Cambridge Analytica in reference
filters for democracy. On April 15 the
to the Brexit referendum or the Trump
European Parliament voted in favour of the
election campaign in the US might suggest
“Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single
the profitable momentum that democracy
Market”, and on May 23-26 EU citizens have
provides for these companies, but at the
the option to elect their chosen parties.
end of the day they are just companies not democratic parties.
The
copyright
reform
includes
the
controversial aspect which foresees online
One of the most beloved clients of Google
giants such as Facebook or Youtube choosing
is Viagogo. The way Viagogo ignores even
to deploy upload filters to protect copyright
court decisions illustrates the mind-set of
protected content in the digital age, has
Google very well. When concert promoter
raised awareness and caused concern. In
MCT successfully won a court case filing
particular companies such as Facebook and
an
Google heavily opposed the new copyright
for the resale of tickets for the upcoming
are many good reason to go to vote. Brexit
law in a manner somewhat similar to the
shows of Rammstein in Germany, however,
can be considered to be a good lesson for
responses of populist parties or politicians.
Google still display tickets for Rammstein
the rest of Europe, and the same goes for
on Viagogo with top ranking in its search
the live music industry, as Brexit is a perfect
Perhaps companies like Facebook and Google
results, ignoring the fact, that Viagogo isn’t
example of how a political decision could
think of themselves as also being some sort of
allowed to resell tickets for these shows.
affect their business.
world domination it might be hard for those
With this in mind, citizens have the
Jürgen Klopp, the team manager of FC
companies to accept that this belief is actually
opportunity to vote for the political party of
Liverpool once said: “The EU is not perfect
not the concept of democracy.
their choice, as the principle of democracy
but it was the best idea we had.” In
interim
injunction
against
Viagogo
political parties. Realistically, in terms of online
is that they have the right to control who is
consideration of the European Union there
These Companies utilized the concept of
governing them. In terms of the upcoming
are even two other stories that currently are
democracy rather as a business model. The
elections for the European Parliament there
of interest for the live music industry.
EU Parliament Bans Bots For Secondary Ticketing For a long time now the issue of secondary
became online marketing champions and
impossible to oppose secondary ticketing
ticketing
concert
set new standards for ignoring court cases,
on a legal level. For far too long it has been
industry. Some promoters (and even artists)
breaking consumer and others laws as well
difficult to convince politicians to agree a
collaborate with ticket resale platforms to
as refusing invitations to attend hearings by
proper legal basis, strengthening consumer
gain extra profits, while other promoters
parliamentary committees.
protection and supporting those promoters
has
disturbed
the
(and even artists) have tried for years to reject the resale of their tickets by third parties.
that do not approve of their tickets being The business model of secondary ticketing is
sold via such platforms.
a perfect example of how certain companies
14
Secondary ticketing has evolved technically
managed to convert the model of black
But times are changing. One of the best signs
and businesswise. Companies such as
market practises into an online business.
of how this is proceeding is the European
Viagogo using state of the art technologies,
For many years it almost seemed to be
Parliament including, as part of its “New