Viagogo was fined $7 million on Friday for making false or misleading representations when reselling tickets for live music and sports events after being sued by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

ACCC chair Rod Sims said the Switzerland-based company's business practices, which included an improperly disclosed 28 per cent booking fee, were "unacceptable".

"Today's $7m penalty sends a strong signal to businesses like Viagogo... that they cannot get away with profiting from misleading Australian consumers," Mr Sims said in a statement.

The Federal Court found that from May to June in 2017, Viagogo's website failed to adequately disclose it was not a primary ticket seller.

Mr Sims said Viagogo misled thousands of consumers into buying tickets at inflated prices by falsely suggesting they were scarce, as well as not including "unavoidable fees" in the listed prices.

Tickets to musical comedy The Book of Mormon were advertised at $135 but sold for $177.5 when booking and handling fees were included, the court heard.

Similarly, tickets to Ashes cricket matches were advertised at $330.15 but sold for $426.10 after fees were added.

Justice Stephen Burley said Viagogo had demonstrated a "level of deliberateness" that required a significant penalty to deter it from further misconduct.

He said the Viagogo had the "appearance" it was "indifferent to the interests of Australian consumers" and that some of its misrepresentations were made on an "industrial scale".

The company has also been ordered pay the ACCC's costs and complete a compliance program.

Australian Associated Press