how to report seller using our images
Summary: The discussion involves a query by superiorfiltersusa about reporting another seller using their images on eBay. profitweb provides detailed guidance on how to file a DMCA Takedown Notice, explaining that photos taken by an individual are automatically protected by copyright law and that eBay must comply when a proper notice is submitted. Other participants express mixed opinions, with some believing that eBay allows such use, while others clarify the legal and eBay-specific provisions against unauthorized use of images. The conversation highlights the misunderstanding about copyright in online marketplaces and emphasizes the importance of reporting procedures.
Where can I report another seller using my images
66 comments
arraus
·2 weeks ago · EditedHow to Report Image or Text Theft to eBay for Removal
If another seller is using photos you personally photographed or text you wrote, you can submit an official DMCA Takedown Notice directly to eBay via email:
PROOF IT WORKS:
I am NOT an authorized dealer, a VeRO member, or a brand.
I take my own product photos using the eBay app and an iPhone
INSTRUCTIONS
If another seller is using photos you personally photographed or text you wrote, you can submit an official DMCA Takedown Notice directly to eBay via email:
💡 Important Notes:
Everything above must be included. I take pic of my signature, add it to the template and reuse. Build the email once, reuse it by just updating the infringement details and date. First time, it's slow. Next time, reuse and it's fast.
Multiple Listings: You can include several infringed listings in one email by repeating the "Infringing Material" section for each additional item.
Policy Link: Full policy details are available at www.ebay.com/vero. Scroll down to the DMCA section (you can also email them with questions about a DMCA Takedown request).
VeRO Team Escalation: Front-line reps primarily handle brand enforcement and may occasionally tell you this isn't supported. If challenged, ask them to escalate your DMCA notice to legal or management
Feel free to contact me directly if you have issues.
superiorfiltersusa
OP2 weeks agoSubject: Notice of Claimed Infringement (DMCA Takedown) - eBay Item Numbers xxx, xxxxxx,
Dear eBay VeRO Team,
I am writing to report instances of copyright infringement on your platform pursuant to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), 17 U.S.C. § 512.
IDENTIFICATION OF THE COPYRIGHTED WORK
I am the copyright owner of the original photographs used to market and display my products. These photographs are my original creative works and are protected under copyright law.
IDENTIFICATION OF THE INFRINGING MATERIAL
The following eBay listings are using my copyrighted photographs without my authorization, license, or consent:
Item Number: xxxxx1 (URL: https://www.ebay.com/itm/xxxx)
CONTACT INFORMATION
Name: [Your Full Name]
Company (if applicable): [Your Company Name]
Address: [Your Mailing Address]
Telephone Number: [Your Phone Number]
Email Address: [Your Email Address]
STATEMENTS OF TRUTH AND GOOD FAITH
I have a good faith belief that the use of the material in the manner complained of is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law.
The information in this notification is accurate, and under penalty of perjury, I am the copyright owner or am authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed.
SIGNATURE
Electronic Signature: /[Your Typed Name]/
Date: July 29, 2026
arraus
·2 weeks ago · Edited@superiorfiltersusa
A few suggestions because this has to fit DMCA law 100%:
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Add information about WHERE YOUR PHOTOS are posted on eBay/online (that seller could've have taken from):
IDENTIFICATION OF INFRINGING MATERIAL TO BE REMOVED The following eBay listing(s) contain my original [copyrighted photograph(s) and/or text description(s)] without my authorization, license, or consent. Please remove or disable access to this material immediately:
Infringing Item Number 1: [Item Number]
My Listing URL:
Listing URL:
[https://www.ebay.com/itm/](https://www.ebay.com/itm/)[Item Number]Infringing Content: [Specify: "Original Photo #1", "Main Gallery Photo", "Full Item Description Text", etc.]
Infringing Item Number 2: [Item Number] (if applicable)
My Listing URL:
Listing URL:
[https://www.ebay.com/itm/](https://www.ebay.com/itm/)[Item Number]Infringing Content: [Specify content]
Replace #2 title "STATEMENTS OF TRUTH AND GOOD FAITH" because the word "Declaration" is important:
DECLARATION AND STATEMENTS OF TRUTH AND GOOD FAITH
bolensparts-360
·2 weeks agoPeople have stolen and used our own photos I uploaded with a digital camera for years , ebay actually encourages it !. I started watermarking my photos after that and then ebay had a little hissy fit about that some years ago but I believe seller pressure on them caused them to abandon that and allow it. Ebay changes their policys and rules so many times I honestly have no idea where we stand , I just let others steal my photos without trying to stop it I use a specific background where people know I have been around long enough to know where they come from in my selling field.
superiorfiltersusa
OP3 weeks agothese images were designed and paid for by us, not stock or or any place online it have to be a copyright issue
arraus
·3 weeks agoThen you can email a DMCA Takedown Notice to eBay and they'll remove the listings you specify. I do that.
⚠️ WARNING: Only file a DMCA if you are the legal copyright owner or an exclusive license holder.
Taking the photo yourself? You hold automatic copyright, no registration required. That's U.S. copyright law & eBay complies.
Hired a photographer? You can only file if your contract includes a Work-Made-for-Hire clause, an Exclusive License, or a Copyright Assignment transferring ownership to you.
Using/modifying someone else's image? Do NOT submit a DMCA. Heavy editing, cropping, or adding text to images lifted elsewhere does not make you the legal rights holder.
Filing a false DMCA notice is executed under penalty of perjury and opens you up to severe legal liability.
superiorfiltersusa
OP2 weeks agothanks, shall do
arraus
·2 weeks agoFeel free to contact me if you have any issues. Good luck!
fabrics24
·3 weeks agoIf what @profitweb is saying is true, that's a complete game changer, but also the most insane thing I've ever heard.
If this is true, it turns out eBay doesn't give a fig ONLY if you report it via, y'know, reporting the person. If you go through the world's most unintuitive email found in the VeRO section --which nobody who's not a Verified Rights Owner would ever think to do--, suddenly it IS against policy????
It's insane to me that they don't even direct you to what you should do; they just lie and say no policy is being violated. Like I know I shouldn't be surprised because we've seen Customer Service say "nah man, a permanent suspension isn't actually permanent" to restricted accounts, but wow.
fabrics24
·3 weeks agoThis of course assumes this is true; I am not sure what to think. I still don't really care about people stealing my photos of very specific cuts and models of fabric and getting INAD'd because of it, but if it is true, that's absolutely bonkers. What an abysmally promoted policy.
arraus
·3 weeks ago · EditedIt's the law. eBay follows the law.
fabrics24
·3 weeks agoI feel like we're neglecting the part where for years everyone here didn't know this!!
Like it was tucked away in an area that we thought didn't apply to us!!
arraus
·3 weeks agoPlease, don't blame eBay. It's a law they follow. Every employee can't know every law... and it's not eBay's job to teach everyone.
If needed, you can email copyright@ebay.com and ask them directly, how to file a DCMA claim for copyright infringement, member reporting member. Also make sure you ask them to escalate to legal or management if they do not know. It's not part of the VeRO Portal.
fabrics24
·3 weeks agoI'm just amazed at how hidden--...hidden isn't the right word but...this is bad. We've all been misinformed the whole time. If CS had just said "I don't know enough about this to advise you"...
Months ago we had this poor guy who had a nonprofit shop with vintage and custom fishing lures, and someone was stealing his photos, and we told him that there was nothing he could do because CS had already told him "tough luck; others can use your photos", and it didn't have to be that way. The whole time he could've gotten his photos protected, but we just...didn't know.
arraus
·3 weeks agoHey, on the bright side, now you know. Please, copy my response to OP. Keep it in your files.
You can also send it to copyright@ebay.com and ask them if it's sufficient.
Get the word out! As you can see here.. even users have a hard time understanding and accepting their rights. It's not eBay's job to teach us the law... they have a ton to do. It would be unreasonable to every eBay rep to know this. Heck, I've had to escalate to management on the VeRO team before.
albertabrightalberta
·3 weeks ago@superiorfiltersusa
Is it not a bit hypocritical for someone to complain about others using "their images" when their pictures aren't even their own but belong to others?
arraus
·3 weeks agoOP might be an authorized dealer and be allowed to use that manufacturer's photos. Heck, OP might be the manufacturer.
powell-collectibles
·3 weeks agothing is that a lot of your photos are lifted from Icepure and you've covered their brand info with "Superior Filters." I'm surprised that you find that to be acceptable but someone can't leverage your photo work for their purposes.
arraus
·3 weeks agoThey night have permission from Icepure to use the images. Especially if they're an authorized dealer.
powell-collectibles
·3 weeks agoNah, seller is actually lifting pictures from one manufacturer and altering the photos to appear as though from a different brand. Let's say he's authorized by Icepure to sell their filters. He's taking their work to further sales of items from a different manufacturer.
arraus
·3 weeks ago · EditedI don't think that is relevant to the subject.
Obviously, modifying someone else's photo and using it as your own is infringement. A seller who submitted a DCMA would be perjuring themselves if they didn't take the photo or personally write the text.
Nonetheless, this topic is relevant to anyone who is actually looking to defend their own content.
bonanza125
·3 weeks agoWe need to know more information. Did the seller post your photos from another website other than Ebay or did they post photos using Ebay catalog as in did you post these photos on Ebay where Ebay used them in a catalog?
superiorfiltersusa
OP3 weeks agoonly posted on ebay, copied my description also
arraus
·3 weeks ago · EditedDon't let the mixed answers confuse you. eBay’s image rights aren't the same as another seller's. MANY responses here are 100% misguided. As a seller who shoots original product photos, here is what you need to know:
@superiorfiltersusa
I usually email the seller & ask them to remove it before I report them. To report another seller using photos you personally photographed, and need removed by eBay, email the following:
EMAIL SUBJECT: DMCA Takedown Notice against another seller (seller username)
CONTENT (include the titles below but add your info):
DMCA Takedown Notice and Member to Member Image/Text Theft Notice of Claimed Infringement
Dear eBay,
This is an official Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) Takedown Notice. Below, I provide all relevant information and my signed DMCA Declaration, which sufficiently provides proof and compels eBay to remove the following content without further proof. Please review the law or escalate if you have any question. This content should be removed immediately.
(Your info below, not the infringer's)
User ID:
Full Name:
Mailing Address:
Email Address (registered with eBay):
Telephone:
Declaration:
I have a good faith belief that use of the material in the manner complained of is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law.
The information in this notification is accurate, and under penalty of perjury, I declare that I am the copyright owner (or authorized to act on behalf of the owner) of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed.
Infringing Material:
Your original item number(s):
Type of content taken by reported seller(s) (image, text, or both):
Item number(s) using your content:
NOTE: you can include several different listings infringed in one email. Just copy and paste this section and put new item numbers in. I usually submit one email per an offender (and put the seller name in the title so I have a record).
Signature:
Date:
Email it to: copyright@ebay.com
Explained on www.ebay.com/vero
NOTE: Sometimes, the rep's working for eBay's VERO team don't know this. They mainly deal with brand infringement. Just keep pushing, ask them to escalate. It's the law. They'll remove when it gets to the right person. I've also confirmed this with eBay's VeRO team attorney, at the 2025 eBay Open.
TO THOSE that think they can use other seller's original photos:
eBay can use our images... you can't. Sellers give EBAY the right when they list on this platform (it's part of the terms & conditions). However, other sellers DO NOT have the right to use another seller's original photos UNLESS eBay has chosen that image to be the main, single, image in their product Catalog. The entire eBay website is NOT eBay’s "product catalog." Listing a photo on eBay does not automatically put it into a open-source catalog for everyone else to copy.
Unless eBay explicitly pulled your image into their official master catalog under those exact conditions, no other seller has the legal right to use your original photos. Taking them is copyright infringement, plain and simple. eBay must comply with DMCA and remove listings using another seller's original photos when reported by image owner, per Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).
As per U.S. Copyright law, Copyright.gov
"Copyright protection exists from the moment an original work is “fixed” in a tangible medium. For photographers, for example, fixation occurs when you take a picture. You don’t need to do anything else at all for your work to be protected by copyright."
chapeau-noir
·3 weeks agoIf you sold used stuff like I do, you could have the satisfaction of knowing that the individual who stole your listings will NOT actually have the item they're advertising, and can get caught in a not as described case.
byrd69er
·3 weeks agoI loved it when someone scraped my vacuum tube photos for their listing. They were great candidates for Item Not as Described cases. I can only hope.
theteamsetguy
·3 weeks ago@superiorfiltersusa ,
Like they say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. You should be proud that others think your photos that you took are so good that they want to copy them.
arraus
·3 weeks ago · EditedIt's not flattery. It's theft.
Some sellers spend significant amounts of time and money photographing TO HAVE A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE.
It's illegal to take someone else's photographs and use them on your own listing. See my response to OP for the proof of this. It's illegal and is theft.
kensgiftshop
·3 weeks agoIf they are on Ebay, other sellers can copy your whole listing and it's ok with Ebay.
arraus
·3 weeks agoNo, that's incorrect. It's legally theft. eBay doesn't allow it.
Read my response to OP or go read www.ebay.com/vero about DMCA.
powell-collectibles
·3 weeks ago · EditedThe missing piece is that the vast majority of sellers aren’t going to have IP on a photograph of something that they have listed. You might have a default copyright, but typically if you upload it to social media, you lose that. I know eBay isn’t social media, but they actually have in their terms that eBay can use it and others can use it.
arraus
·3 weeks agoNo, they don't have to register each image, not matter what. That piece is not missing. No, it's not lost by uploading. At least not in this case.
The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) protects sellers.
Copyright protection exists from the moment an original work is 'fixed' in a tangible medium. For photographers, this occurs when you take a picture. No further action is needed to secure protection.
This is enforceable, as it is. None of those points are relevant. I'm sorry if that's hard to accept, but it is what it is no matter how many people have different opinions about it.
It's the law and eBay's actual policy. www.ebay.com/vero
fabrics24
·3 weeks agoI'm going to be so honest: this is the first time I have ever heard of this being the case, let alone eBay enforcing it.
In practice, I've seen tons of people come here saying that they reported their photos being used by others to eBay, and eBay has replied that there's nothing wrong with other sellers using their photos or even their description.
Is that technically against the law? Probably; I'm not gonna deny that. I've just never ever seen eBay actually enforce it. It's generally a self-solving issue because without fail people fill out INADs because the product is not identical to the photo.
Also, to become a VeRO, you have to actually sign up. You're not automatically considered a Verified Rights Owner just because you have a product and take a photo of it; that would be silly.
arraus
·3 weeks ago · EditedI'm not going to address all the opinions out there. Obviously, 99% could say something is legal but it doesn't make it so.
You have to scroll down the page to "Reporting DCMA" section, www.ebay.com/vero
A person can't just email regular CS to get it taken down. Members reporting Members isn't done with the registered VeRO system... it's emailed in and the DCMA information, declaration, and signature must be provided. It still ends up being a VeRO.
I provide all the details and answers to common misconceptions in my response/answer to OP, on this thread. Check it out. I assure you, I use this and they take down. Images that you took are protected (yes, there are exceptions, which I list in my OP response).
As part of the email submission to eBay, it requires attesting (making an oath) that the material isn't owned by anyone else, you own it (because you took the photo) and that you are being honest. Legally, anyone who lied on a DCMA would be exposing themselves to liability if they didn't take the photo/own the rights. VeRO's are the same.
Clearly, many misunderstand this. Even some folks that work at eBay. eBay's legal counsel knows and so do higher ups on the VeRO team.
fabrics24
·3 weeks agoI never said it was legal; I said it was tolerated by eBay.
I'm glad you've got it dealt with in your favor, but that's not been the experience of most people here on the forums. You don't even get a "that's not how you report this; you need to go through DCMA"; you get a "this isn't against our policy."
No wonder nobody's ever gotten a helpful response from eBay concerning this; reporting it via email and not the literal "report" function is unintuitive as heck.
powell-collectibles
·3 weeks agoI'm not here to say emphatically you are right or wrong - I'm not that educated or invested. BUT, I think that we can all agree that there are different messages on this one. You can point to an eBay Vero page, someone else can point to the eBay terms where you provide permission for others to use by the mere act of use in your listings.
Regardless, for the OP, not sure if the juice is worth the squeeze on fighting this practice.
arraus
·3 weeks ago · EditedWhy wouldn't it be? It's just an email to eBay? It's totally worth it.
I provided the DCMA compliant email template to OP in my response to them. I take a photo of my signature and reuse the email template, so it's already in there. All I have to do is update the offending listing info.
In my answer to OP, I also address eBay's terms & conditions, product catalog, ebay affiliates "arguments"... which allow for image to be used in the Product Catalog, Google ads, etc.. People confuse that with the whole site and other seller's listings, which are not part of the Product Catalog. Sellers are not "eBay affiliates". Google is an eBay affiliate, not users.
It takes no time at all to do and keeps competition from using your own property and investments against you.
powell-collectibles
·3 weeks agoI suppose that it would come down to the interpretation of the following:
"Your content may be added to the eBay product catalog, and may be used by other sellers in their eBay listings."
If that "used by other seller" is predicated on addition to the catalog, I'd tend to agree with your premise. If it is a separate - as in "and/or" situation, that's another story.
BUT, if you are saying that you have experience in getting sellers to take down fairly common things to which you don't have IP or exclusivity, something like a pair or jeans, that's good info for a lot of sellers that have heartburn over photo "sharing."
For me, likely still not worth the effort. If someone wants to take my photo and use as his own, I don't see what my real damages are. If I get the picture removed and he has to take his own photos, that doesn't do anything for me. It just costs the other guy, and I'm not really concerned with upping someone else's workload.
mam98031
·3 weeks agoMost sellers are not members of VERO and therefore not protected.
@profitweb When Ebay started doing their Catalog, they used pics sellers posted in many of the items in the catalog. Which is when they stop enforcing others using someone else's pics on the site. Right or wrong, that is how it is done here.
What should I do if my image, video or text is being used by another seller?
When you create listings you give eBay and its customers permission, through our User Agreement, to use your images, videos and product details. Your content may be added to the eBay product catalog, and may be used by other sellers in their eBay listings.
You may contact the seller and ask them to remove your image or text if it is not part of the eBay product catalog.
https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/listing-policies/images-text-policy?id=4240
arraus
·3 weeks ago · Edited@mam98031 The info you provided is an incorrect interpretation of eBay policy and creates confusion for members asking about image theft. They DO NOT need to be members of VeRO. "Customers" are not sellers, per the User Agreement (Section 10, Section 3 explicitly forbids using someone else's content)
Catalog vs. Listings: eBay's User Agreement allows eBay to select uploaded photos for inclusion in their official Product Catalog database. It does not give individual sellers free permission to copy original photos directly from another seller's active listing.
Infringement & Enforcement: Copying original photos directly from another user's listing remains an intellectual property Copyright violation under eBay's Images, videos and text policy. Stating that eBay "stopped enforcing" image theft on the site is factually inaccurate, as is claiming members are unprotected without VeRO membership.
Spreading incorrect advice regarding intellectual property rights creates real confusion for sellers trying to protect their work. Please take the time to read posts entirely and verify policy details with eBay before posting misinformed claims as fact.
Email management at copyright@ebay.com to confirm directly before spreading more misinformation regarding DMCA Takedown notices for the removal of original photos and text on eBay (which must be the seller's 100% original work, not someone else's they modified).
Please read my original response to OP.
It provides all details and policy details that you should ask copyright@ebay.com.
As an avid poster and frequent voice on this forum, I would expect you to verify your facts before posting. I think it is very important that you learn and understand this specific policy especially, as misinforming sellers about their IP rights does the community a disservice.
For almost all of my listings, I take and edit my own photos using eBay app & editor. I am not an authorized distributor. I am not a brand registered with the VeRO program. I've attached a couple of email screenshots as proof (NOTE: new way to submit takedown notice to eBay is in my response to OP).
At the end of the day, copyright law isn't subject to forum opinion. eBay honors DMCA takedown requests and removes infringing photos when submitted correctly.
I know because I do it regularly to protect my own work.
NOTE: This might not matter to someone doing a one-off sale, but it matters immensely to sellers who list the same SKUs repeatedly, aren't authorized distributors using stock assets, and invest the time to take and edit their own original photos.
mam98031
·2 weeks agoFrom your first point. How does one tell if the seller got the pic from the Ebay catalog or not?
Thank you for sharing all that information. I appreciate the time it took you to post all that. I will read and learn. Hopefully in the future you can be a little more civil. I NEVER post incorrect info on purpose but I am a mere human and make mistakes. So don't try to blow this up into something it is not nor was ever intended to be.
arraus
·2 weeks ago · Edited@mam98031 That's easy. Try creating a listing from the eBay catalog. You will see. But, here's the answer the lazy way...
How can you tell if seller is using eBay's Product Catalog photo vs. stolen image?
1. Search the Catalog: Go to Create Listing and search for the item to view the official catalog entry.
2. Note the Single: Photo Rule The eBay Product Catalog contains only ONE stock photo per item. (Other sellers' individual listings are NEVER part of the Product Catalog).
3. Understand How eBay's Product Catalog Images Work
Stock Photo Only: When a seller selects a catalog entry, eBay inserts that single stock image into their listing.
Auto-Removal: As soon as the seller uploads any of their own custom photos, that catalog stock image automatically disappears.
chapeau-noir
·3 weeks agoAre those stock photos?
superiorfiltersusa
OP3 weeks agono
chapeau-noir
·3 weeks agoThat's even more annoying then as you obviously put time and trouble into creating them, but I suspect those taking the photos have decided they are stock and can be just used.
powell-collectibles
·3 weeks agoMany are stock photos from Icepure doctored to look like they are from Superior Filters. If you look closely at some of his photos, it gets pretty obvious that he's just put a rectangle with the brand name over a picture from the Icepure website.
I suppose technically they aren't stock photos.
chapeau-noir
·3 weeks ago::scare quotes:: technically ::/scare quotes:: :-D
ryry-jj
·3 weeks agoOnce we list here, all our images can be used by other sellers on ebay. If you mean your image where taken from your own website, that's a different story and can be reported
arraus
·3 weeks agoNo, that's incorrect.
eBay's Terms & Conditions allow EBAY (not you) to use our photo in their Product Catalog. The entire eBay site is not the Product Catalog.
www.ebay.com/vero
All OP needs to do is file a DMCA Takedown Notice. eBay will VeRO the seller.
ryry-jj
·3 weeks ago · EditedUnless I'm reading it wrong, eBay does allow us to use other's photos
arraus
·2 weeks ago · Edited@ryry-jj "Customers" are buyers, not sellers.
The CS help page quote you referenced ("When you create listings you give eBay and its customers permission...") is poorly worded, but the binding contract (Section 10 of the eBay User Agreement) grants content licenses strictly to eBay ("us"), not to competing sellers.
How it works in practice:
"Customers": Refers to buyers viewing listings, or eBay selecting photos for their official stock Product Catalog. (Catalog entries feature 1 main photo that drops off when a seller adds their own).
Catalog vs. Listing Theft: Stock catalog entries can be selected, but pulling photos directly off another seller's live listing violates Section 3 (IP infringement). But if an image is on a live listing, another seller cannot rip it directly for their own listing (Section 3 of the eBay User Agreement explicitly forbids uploading content that belongs to someone else or infringing on third-party IP).
Non-VeRO copyright holders can submit DMCA takedown requests to
copyright@ebay.comto enforce federal law, which eBay regularly processes.sin-n-dex
·3 weeks agoYou can't, but you can make your images so original that no one will want to use them. That's why all my coins have a very loud gold and black background. It identifies me like a trademark when people are searching the index of listings, and it's loud and obnoxious which keeps others from stealing my photos (at least, they would cut out my background to do that, and then I don't really consider it my image anymore if it's been altered like that).
arraus
·3 weeks ago · EditedYes, you and he can have them removed by eBay. It's theft. You are incorrect (but I still like your tips).
www.ebay.com/vero
When a person takes a photograph, it's automatically protected by Copyright law. eBay's contract only gives eBay and it's affiliates (like Google) the right to use a seller's photos, not you or other sellers. It allows EBAY to use it in their Product Catalog (one main photo). The entire site is NOT eBay's product catalog.
Bottom line, if someone uses another sellers photo, it's legally theft and copyright infringement. If ebay is provided a DMCA Takedown notice, they will remove the listing and VeRO the infringer... as it's required by Federal Law to do.
This is a common misconception.
lakefor94
·3 weeks agoAny images you upload to an eBay listing can be used by other sellers.
There is nothing to report.
I have had other sellers use my images of a product and then undercut my price.
I stick to what I can control and focus on those endeavors.
arraus
·3 weeks agoNo, that's not true at all. eBay has rights to use the photos, not you or other sellers.
The eBay Product Catalog is not the whole website... it just the product catalog (products only have 1 photo each and they disappear if seller adds another photo to their listing).
OP can send a DMCA Takedown Notice with the required info to copyright@ebay.com. eBay will VeRO the offender and remove the photos. I've had this done many times.
What you said is a common misconception. You can read more on www.ebay.com/vero
bonanza125
·3 weeks ago · Edited@profitweb Ebay will not remove a listing where seller uses an image of another sellers previous listing which were created and posted directly for and on Ebay. Ebay then has the right to place the image in Ebay catalog. Now the only way vero works is if the seller owns that photo and takes a photo from another website and uses it on Ebay. We don't know the whole story yet. The OP needs to be more specific. Not all photos have a copyright.
arraus
·3 weeks ago · EditedYES, EBAY DOES DO THAT. You're assumption is incorrect. I have it done.
If another person took the original photo, they are automatically the owner of the photo (per copyright law). The OP answered another person that these are not manufacturer's photos. I am assuming these are photos the OP took.
I do this frequently and eBay removes the listings I report that are using my photos.
I've already posted the details, proof, and how to report in this thread so I don't want to relist it here. I've even addressed eBay's right to use in THEIR "product catalog".
There are laws. Copyright occurs the second someone takes a photo. No registration needed. eBay has to comply with Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) Takedown Notice. And, here's eBay on the topic: www.ebay.com/vero
Please read my response to OP. I think you'll be surprised. Your photos are protected!
bonanza125
·3 weeks ago@profitweb You are incorrect. Just because you take a photo and put it directly on Ebay you aren't the owner of that photo Ebay is. You agreed to terms which states they can use the photo. I have personally been involved with sellers taking my photos and using them. I reported it and guess what nothing happened. If the seller took the photo from another website then yes there are copyrights involved however if they use a photo from the Ebay catalog then that is different. The OP just responded with only on Ebay so if they took a photograph for Ebay then chances are Ebay will not remove the listing due to VERO. You can fight this and argue all you want however you are misinformed.
arraus
·3 weeks ago · EditedNO. You are always the owner of the photo if you physically took the photo. It doesn't matter if it was done using the eBay app and only posted on eBay.
If you use eBay, terms & conditions allow EBAY and their affiliates to use in the Product Catolog and advertising. The Product Catalog IS NOT all of eBay. Affiliates are place like google. Listings ARE NOT the Product Catalog and other sellers are NOT eBay affiliates.
This works. It's the law. I do it.
Instead of calling me a liar because it's something you haven't experienced and do not understand, why don't you email copyright@ebay.com and ask them how to submit a DCMA to report infringement. Tell them this is a DCMA to them, not VeRO portal, because it's a member-to-member infringement. Ask them to escalate to managemetn if they claim you can't. Listings are not part of eBay's Product Catalog and other sellers do not have right to use UNLESS it's the single Product Cata log photo (that disappears as soon as they add another photo).
bonanza125
·3 weeks agoI didn't call you a liar. I called you misinformed in regards to how removals work in regards to copyright and Ebay policy. You sell kitchen faucets. You are an authorized dealer who was granted approval by the manufacture to use photos they have. Would that be correct so far? There is a copyright on those photos which you received approval to use. If someone else uses those photos then the manufacture gives the ok to submit a VERO complaint. That is separate from someone posting a photo directly to Ebay. Ebay can use that in the catalog. It's right in the policy. Many folks here work from home and use photos they personally post to Ebay. Ebay will not remove those if it's in catalog.
le-5262
·3 weeks agoFrom what I've seen in previous posts...
it is usually not against any rules for someone to do that.
arraus
·3 weeks ago · EditedThat's because poeple don't know what they're talking about on this one... it's theft. If submitted properly, eBay will remove the content and give the infringer a VeRO.
Read about DMCA toward lower half of page:
www.ebay.com/vero
eBay and it's affiliates (like Google) are allowed to use the photos, not other sellers, per Terms & Conditions.
eBay's product catalog isn't the whole website. Product catalog has 1 image per item in it, usually the manufacturer's.
From copyright.gov:
"Copyright protection exists from the moment an original work is 'fixed' in a tangible medium. For photographers, this occurs when you take a picture. No further action is needed to secure protection."
Seller photos are protected by Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and eBay enforces it when it's reported (per DMCA guidelines)
BOTTOM LINE: Using someone else's photos is illegal. Take your own or take a chance. It's theft. They've put time and money into taking them. They're not anyone else's to use without expressed permission from the owner.