Seller copied our watermark photos by placing their name over ours.
I was searching our listing on ebay, "Octopath Traveler II 2 Design Works 2020-2023 Art Book", when I noticed another seller used one of their other accounts to copy our listing. Going thru their listings (link below). I discovered 2 more listings copied. Total 3. I know nothing can be done about the description or title but what about the photos they placed their watermark over ours? We purposely take photos on our desk, with camera glare or up against the window. So it can't be duplicated by other sellers. Clearly, this seller is brazen enough to place their watermark over ours and doesn't care.
1. Search results: SDCC 2021 Indiana Jones Raiders of the Lost Ark 40 Years Coin
2. Search results: Sonic the Hedgehog Art Design Hardcover English Color Book
3. Search results: Octopath Traveler 2 II Design Works 2020-2023 Artbook
I'm not sure sending a message will do anything. Seeing as this seller has done it before to other sellers using their main account.
1. Search results: The Last of Us Part II 2 Abby Figure Statue Statuette 8.75" Dark Horse Comics
2. Search results: The Last of Us Part II 2 Joel Figure Statue Statuette 9" Dark Horse Comics
Any assistance will be helpful.
retro_entertainment_collectibles
·3 years agoImages uploaded to eBay become eBay's property short of perhaps the actual property rights holder(s).
Trying to prevent image theft in online sales environments is akin to trying make sure no piece of paper ever enters one's lawn... Don't sweat it, price and policies win the day. Now if you're a person creating you're own paintings, this/that, original creations it can be a different story.
Yes, there are "efforts" taking place online around the globe to protect imagery and more via copyrights be they implied or lawfully on record. This is a looming job of coming AI and who knows where it ends up.
mintwares
OP3 years agoThank you albertabrightalberta. I filled those out already and was looking for alternative solution (if any) because if the sellers listings are yanked. They will probably retaliate against us. I'm looking to avoid further tension. In the sametime, this isn't there first rodeo as they done this before to others. Maybe they need a kick in the rear reminder to stop their shenanigans.
Everyone else who commented after, how do you handle this situation? I don't believe sending him/her the picture policy link will do anything.
luckythewinner
·3 years agoJust so you know, watermarks are against eBay policy.
The following are not allowed:
https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/listing-policies/picture-policy?id=4370
ckimodog
·3 years ago@mintwares
I didn't think watermarks were allowed on pictures. Here's a link that may better explain:
https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/listing-policies/picture-policy
toomuchstuffagain35
·3 years agoTechnically they're not, but ebay hasn't enforced that policy for a long time.
Personally I think it's ridiculous to watermark something like a book cover that's not a rare edition/volume or any NIB commodity items.
pennysdream
·3 years agoGood Morning.
It may be a good idea for you to read the photos policies.
robbie31415
·3 years agoTechnically watermarks aren't allowed on eBay.
EBays picture policy
https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/listing-policies/picture-policy?id=4370
So you are already in policy violation (one eBay isn't enforcing), however they won't enforce it on them either.
albertabrightalberta
·3 years agoAlso, it won't hurt to email the seller to let them know that you will file VeRO infringement notices against them. I've had times when I've contacted sellers giving 24 hours to end the listings and use their own pictures, after which I will report.
A few times I've been accused of using their pictures or I get a nasty response, in which case I immediately report.
In other instances, I've received apologies from sellers who didn't understand how much work is involved in taking pictures and preparing listings.
I always add picture thieves to my BBL.
albertabrightalberta
·3 years agoUnfortunately, ebay (improperly) allows others to use images stolen from ebay listings, however I see that you also sell on Amazon.
As such, you can fill out a VeRO NOCI (notice of claimed infringement) and for the source of where they stole your pictures from, show the link to your Amazon listings.
The PDF form has typeable fields. Fill it out, save it and email it to:
VeRO@ebay.com:
https://ir.ebaystatic.com/pictures/aw/pics/pdf/us/help/community/EN-NOCI.pdf
If there are more than 2 listings, use another form to do the others.
It's very frustrating but if you follow through and successfully get the listings removed, the VeRO dings on the sellers' account(s) will be serious enough that he should learn a lesson.
Do not reference your own ebay listings as the source of the images. It's imperitive that you use the Amazon listings.
I wish you the best.
bill.purvis2012
·3 years agoOne can't copy photos from an Amazon listing and post them on Ebay. It doesn't work. They're blocked. But, on Amazon the items are sold for various sellers under the same photo. When I sold on Amazon I rarely used my photo because the listings went up under the "stock" photo. The seller can add their photo in the description, but usually they don't.
albertabrightalberta
·3 years agoIn this case (in which I found the OP's listings on Amazon), the OP uses his/her own pictures to list the same items on Amazon. Stock images aren't used so @mintwares owns the rights to those pictures.