Conscole scalping has long been a problem for gamers, but in the wake of the launch of the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5, the scale of the problem has been made painfully apparent. Reports of scalpers using automatic bots to buy up and stockpile consoles has been widely reported, exacerbating shortages. Now, however, a bill is being proposed in the UK that could make this sort of console scalping illegal.
Can This Bill Solve the Problem of Console Scalping?
Entitled the “Gaming Hardware (Automated Purchase and Resale) Bill 2019-21,” this new bill is being proposed by Scottish National Party MP Douglas Chapman, as reported by Sky News. Chapman first proposed a motion in December of last year, aiming for legislation to make reselling gaming consoles at inflated prices illegal. This motion quickly gained support from other MPs in multiple parties. Now, Chapman is aiming to make console illegal, describing the practice as “profiteering” and “a total scam”.
Unfortunately, Chapman himself has said that this bill is unlikely to pass into law. However, he hopes that it will raise awareness of the problem, forcing the government to “take responsibility,” and stop the practice of predatory console scalping. The bill has parallels with a similar bill brought into UK law to tackle the reselling of event tickets. “We’ve proposed that a similar legislative process be brought forward to ensure that consumers can purchase gaming consoles and computer components at no more than the manufacturers’ recommended price,” explains Chapman; “and that resale of good purchased by automated bots be made illegal.”
Support for the Bill From the Gaming Industry
Fortunately, Chapman’s bill is likely to have support from both Sony and Microsoft, as well as other companies impacted by scalpers. After all, scalpers often stockpile bought consoles until they can be resold; preventing those units from generating further revenue through game sales and so forth.
Caroline Dinenage, the government’s minister of state for digital and culture, has released a statement in response to the bill; “Officials are discussing this issue with the trade association for the video games industry,” she says; “We know that bulk purchasing through automated bots is a concern for some of their members who we understand are looking at any further actions they can take to prevent these behaviours and are working with their retailers to improve experiences for customers.”
Hopefully, whether this new bill becomes law or not, this leads to positive action against console scalpers. (Whose activities are currently completely legal in the UK.) No doubt gamers would be more than happy to see scalpers put out of business; especially as shortages continue for both the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5.