Booking.com ruled to have violated Computer Fraud and Abuse Act by unauthorized Ryanair website scraping

From Investing.com: 2024-07-20 08:15:34

A U.S. court ruled Booking.com violated the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act by accessing Ryanair’s website without permission. Ryanair, Europe’s largest airline, praised the ruling for potentially ending unauthorized screen scraping by booking sites. Booking.com plans to appeal the decision, while Ryanair has taken legal action against third-party booking platforms.

The jury found Booking.com induced a third party to access Ryanair’s site without authorization with intent to defraud. Booking.com’s counterclaims of defamation and unfair competition by Ryanair were rejected. Booking.com believes allowing fare comparison benefits consumers, but Ryanair hopes the ruling will discourage internet piracy and overcharging by online travel agents.

Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary expects the ruling to halt internet piracy by OTA Pirates, benefiting airlines, travel companies, and consumers. He hopes the decision will prompt consumer agencies in Britain and Europe to crack down on illegal screen scraping and overcharging for flights and additional services. This comes after Ryanair signed deals with online travel agents for authorized ticket resale.



Read more at Investing.com: U.S. court rules against Booking.com in Ryanair screen-scraping case By Reuters