eBayer Stealing Images And Content

[Ian]

For the last few months, I've been going round and round with eBay because a seller uses our reviews to promote his items. I'm not talking about a link or a quote either. The guy copies and pastes the entire thing. To make matters worse, he uses our images and links to our server. Here's an example:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 8719282206

Even though this obviously uses our copywritten text and images, eBay says that "there is not a violation of eBay's policies
as per our guidelines".

We're not the only one he's doing this to either. He's doing this to Extreme Mhz and others:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 5207899125

So what are my options? Block people from linking to our images? (we really should have done this long ago.. same goes with our KProbe mirrors). Replace the images in his auction with those that DO violate eBay's policies? Thoughts?

[MonsterMan]

Changing the images is always fun You could always link him to some animal-porn web site or something

But what about setting it up to block off-site linking (ie, refer checking)?

You could also get everyone here to spam the hell out of him, too...

This is yet another reason I hate e-bay. I will never use it...

[Ian]

But what about setting it up to block off-site linking (ie, refer checking)?

If we were using static images, this would be a piece of cake but everything is in a database. I'm not sure if we could do it.

I replaced one of the images in that auction. I could have been a lot meaner.

[CowboySlim]

I love the DON'T BUY.....THIEF caution.

Can we spam his feedback?

No, it wasn't obvious to me.

Maybe we could set up phony e-mail accounts and new ebay accounts.
Then bid real high to kill his auction and not pay.

I'll sign up using MonteLDS.

[Boba_Fett]

Take the bitch to court. That'll teach him a lession. You do have copyrights for a reason

EDIT: Hrm, since he is a Aussie, that might be a bit too tough to warrent going to court over. What a freakin' loser though. He could just link to your review. Why the HELL would he copy all that? 99.9% of DVD burner buyers don't even know what most of that information means!

[hoxlund]

i have a couple of bogus ebay accounts, id be happy to help

let me know what i can do... godfather

[Ian]

Leave it for now. The auction is over but knowing him, he'll start another one this week.

[CowboySlim]

i have a couple of bogus ebay accounts, id be happy to help

Why does this not surprise me?

[Ian]

Miguel @ Extreme Mhz left that guy a message too.

[socheat]

The method to block images from a database isn't much different than the .htaccess method. I went ahead and blocked images linked on ebay.com to point to this image:

http://www.cdrlabs.com/common/stolen_image.jpg

I was tempted to replace it with the Goatse man, that'd get Ebay's attention...

Socheat

[Ian]

Thanks Socheat. Instead of Goatse, you could use Something Awful's 404 error image:

http://www.somethingawful.com/404/

[socheat]

Up to you. It's fairly easy to change.

[CowboySlim]

Or that picture of Hoxland's room.

Oh, that was great - all those stolen from signs.

[LoneWolf]

For Ian, I'd link to a picture that uses text with something about copyright violation (i.e. "This user has violated copyright by attempting to use to an image at CDRLabs.com", etc. etc.) and I'd talk to ExtremeMHz about doing the same. Ebayers often police each other, and if they see that kind of crap going on, they won't hesitate to report the auction...if enough people do it (last I knew, using images you didn't create yourself is a violation of Ebay's ToS and they can be reported for that) the auction will be yanked for one reason or another.

EDIT: I just got this notice on Ebay about a new feature "Report This Item":

http://www2.ebay.com/aw/core/200604.sht ... 4-03162046

If Ian sees auction links here that are violating copyright or stealing images, I'm sure many of us would be glad to report them if we are provided with links to the auctions.

[CowboySlim]

I just checked the listing.
Now says that the seller pulled it.

[aviationwiz]

I was tempted to replace it with the Goatse man, that'd get Ebay's attention...

That would rock!

If Ian sees auction links here that are violating copyright or stealing images, I'm sure many of us would be glad to report them if we are provided with links to the auctions.

Absolutely!

[Alektron]

I download images from all over the web to my hard drive and use them to sell things, and I don't think there's anything ethically wrong with it. I don't link to others websites, so I don't take extra bandwidth.

I don't copy text and use it in the ads though.

[LoneWolf]

I download images from all over the web to my hard drive and use them to sell things, and I don't think there's anything ethically wrong with it. I don't link to others websites, so I don't take extra bandwidth.

I don't copy text and use it in the ads though.

You may wish to read Ebay's terms on this:

http://pages.ebay.com/help/tp/compliant-listings.html

"You should avoid "borrowing" text or images (including photos) from other listings on eBay, a manufacturer's web site, product catalogs, or other sources without specific permission from the owner. Contrary to popular belief, simply because images and text may be found somewhere on the Internet does not necessarily mean that they are not protected by copyright laws. Copyright laws apply to the Internet, and manufacturers or other copyright owners may object to the use of text or images that they own or have created.

You should write your own descriptive text for your listing, and take your own photos. "

You may never have an auction taken down because of it, but that is because Ebay relies on members to do the policing. If you aren't reported, the auction won't be taken down. If you are reported for using a photo that may be copyrighted, Ebay will likely take down the auction and ask questions later. Lousy thing to happen if fifteen people are watching your auction, and it's half over.

I now use my digital camera for all photos. Some Ebay buyers won't buy items that use stock photos for the description, since some fraudulent sellers use stock photos for items they do not have in their posession.[/url]

Also check this out:

http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/ver ... theft.html

If you copy a picture from someone else's listing (doesn't have to be a description), you're also in violation of Ebay's policies. Not saying you are, just something to be aware of. Sellers that find people doing this are usually quick to report those auctions.

[Alektron]

LoneWolf,

Thanks, I appreciate the long warning per Ebay about the borrowing of images. I'll be even more selective in using others' images.

Do you have permission to use the copyrighted image "Bill the Cat"? Not saying you don't; just asking curiously.

[Ian]

Do you have permission to use the copyrighted image "Bill the Cat"? Not saying you don't; just asking curiously.

I'm guessing he hasn't. However, he's also not using it to promote or sell an item. Anyway, I don't want to get in a pissing match over what people do on eBay.

You guys have provided a lot of great info. From what LoneWolf has posted, eBay should have pulled that auction that was using our images and content.

[dodecahedron]

Do you have permission to use the copyrighted image "Bill the Cat"? Not saying you don't; just asking curiously.

Ack!

[LoneWolf]

LoneWolf,

Thanks, I appreciate the long warning per Ebay about the borrowing of images. I'll be even more selective in using others' images.

Do you have permission to use the copyrighted image "Bill the Cat"? Not saying you don't; just asking curiously.

No, I don't. My advice to you has nothing to do with how I feel; it is only to let you know Ebay's policy. I'm not here to start a flame-fest or be critical of your choices, and I don't spend my time looking for auctions to report, either.

As of late, I've run into a lot of issues with Ebay, from vigilantes reporting auctions, to bidders who fail to read auction terms before they bid, and then are upset that they can't dictate their own terms to the seller. I'm not sticking up for them; having been burned though has caused me to look much more deeply into their policies. I thought the federal tax codes were bad; this doesn't seem any better.