IMPORTANT NEWS - PLEASE READ

[ms*patricia]

If you don't opt out then your listing photos can be used by other sellers Please read. You can go to the page, itself if you like - you decide if you want to let Ebay do this or not. http://pages.ebay.com/sell/July2009Update/faq/index.html#optout Will eBay automatically consider my photos for inclusion in the eBay product catalog? Yes, eBay will begin to select photos from sellers' listings for inclusion in the eBay product catalog starting on September 1. If you don't want your photos used, you can opt out at any time. If you opt out by August 31, 2009 at 23:59:59 PT, none of your photos will be considered for inclusion in the catalog unless you opt back in at a later time. If you opt out after August 31, 2009 23:59:59 PT, any photos we select for inclusion in the catalog prior to your opt-out may continue to be used in the catalog. How do I opt out of having my photos considered for use in the eBay product catalog? You can opt out of having your photos considered for use in the eBay product catalog, by following these steps: * Click My eBay at the top of any eBay page. You may be asked to sign in. * Choose the Account tab at the top of the page * Click on Site Preferences in the left hand margin * Click on Selling Preferences * Click on the "Show" link to the right of Share your photos * Click on the "Edit" link next to "Consider photos I upload in the listing process for inclusion in the eBay product catalog and other product offerings." * Click the checkbox that states "If you'd like to opt-out of this program, please do so by checking this box and clicking the "Submit" button below." * Click the "Submit" button. Do others a favor and post this on other groups you belong to. Spread the word because this is something Ebay is keeping quiet on.

[poozybear]

Thanks so much for posting this. I just went and took care of it. However, knowing that things don't always stick, I would suggest an added measure of protection - watermark with a © symbol. -- Kathy

[formwithfunction]

Thanks for the heads-up. I would have never noticed it othewise. -- ~ Charlie imagesbycharlie

[spreading-joy-through-art]

Sorry to sound silly buy why would you want to opt out? If they link your seller name to your picture wouldn't it be free advertising? Or is it that they are using your art/picture as theirs? ?:| Joy

[poozybear]

As I understand it, they're going use your picture as theirs. This doesn't really apply that much to art, and other OOAK items, as much as it does to new items or common items. Say I have a new Beanie Baby to sell, and take a photograph. Without opting out, eBay can take that picture, that I spent time retouching and color correcting, and add it to their image catalog. So the next guy who comes along with the same Beanie Baby to sell, now has access to a cataloged image and doesn't have to take his own photo. So essentially, you're giving them permission to use something that you own the copyright to. You're signing your rights over to them. -- Kathy -- Edited by poozybear at 08/07/2009 2:48 PM PDT

[spreading-joy-through-art]

Ooooh! I get it now. Sounds like they might be trying to build a library of their own to make selling easier. ha! Thanks so much. I thought I was missing something. Joy:-x

[poozybear]

That's what I think they're doing. Just like now, when you go to sell a CD or DVD, you can enter the SKU number, and they give you a catalog photo to use in the listing. A few months ago I sold a CD that was not on a major label, so scanned my own image, and when I listed, got a message asking me if I wanted to add the image to their catalog. My guess is that they're trying to build up a library of other images . . . computers, electronics, plush toys, handbags . . . whatever. -- Kathy

[drawdog5]

The last thing I want to do is give eBay something for free! It may well be that we're cutting off our noses to spite our faces by opting out . . . but I highly doubt they'll spotlight art in their catalogs, since all their changes are certainly not helping us as art sellers. We're small little eensy weensy potatoes to the big machine. -- -Ann "Now, go away, or I shall taunt you a second time."

[suejo0101]

I opted out but got a good laugh out of it. Since they don't highlight art - no worry about pics there. I take such bad photos of everything else they would be nuts to use mine. My guess is they are out to use pictures that look like they were taken by professional. But they should not be able to just indiscriminately use someone's photos without permission. Sue -- Edited by suejo0101 at 08/07/2009 8:26 PM PDT

[poozybear]

Yeah, I think they're looking for photos of computers, iPods and such - items that are big sellers, where the manufacturer's image can't be used legally (example, the risk of using Apple's official copyrighted iPod photo vs. a really nice one taken by a seller). They don't want our art, but as Ann said, why give them something for free? I'm sure not doing it. but I highly doubt they'll spotlight art in their catalogs Oh, are you talking about a physical catalog (paper printed)? By catalog I meant a library of images. For example, if you list an iPod, you can choose a stock image from the eBay library/catalog. (Those "stock" images being the ones they took from other sellers.) -- Kathy

[drawdog5]

Oh, are you talking about a physical catalog (paper printed)? By catalog I meant a library of images. I think I wasn't paying attention, for some reason I was just assumed printed catalog. I just re-read the first post - the way it's worded, it could be either a printed catalog or an image catalog. Either way, eBay's not getting my photos for free-zies.:| -- -Ann "Now, go away, or I shall taunt you a second time."

[artistjillian]

I didn't realize it was image catalog too. I have seen print catalogs and they included art, believe it or not. Was a few years back. Just looked like any other store catalog - just saying to go to eBay to get good buys on handbags, etc. Beautiful photos, like any fashion magazine, no buying type pricing of course and not in block format. Prices would say from $15-$55. However I wondered the point of it. Get a catalog - see something you really, really want (say a zebra stripe handbag), you can't go somewhere and buy it - sure, go to eBay - but you might go on a day when there are no zebra handbags listed, so you search all handbags spend an hour or so. No salesperson to tell you when they will get more in. You go a few days later as you MUST have that bag, and still no luck. Why would you be tempted to go back. I do not get the catalog thing. (obviously) -- ~Jillian artist, Jillian Crider ... google me!

[artistjillian]

Sorry. I was trying to archive some stuff in another group, and inadvertently posted here. Now deleted. I apologize. -- ~Jillian artist, Jillian Crider ... google me! -- Edited by artistjillian at 08/08/2009 10:03 AM PDT

[poozybear]

I remember receiving a few of those printed catalogs some years back. I haven't gotten one in quite a while. Maybe they were trying out some new marketing techniques, and that one didn't work. As you said, it was a really dumb idea. A catalog for an auction site, where the average listing time is seven days? There was no way that you could actually locate or purchase any of the items in the catalog. Must have been costly to do, which may be why they stopped sending them. Just a very strange concept - send out a catalog from a site with constantly changing inventory. It was just weird. -- Kathy

[artistjillian]

I also found it weird that it was potentially advertising 2nd hand goods. There is NO way of knowing whether the item - being brandished at $ .99 - $9.99 was in good or bad shape. The photo might look good, but the inside might be crap. No idea of size, no details at all. Just pretty pictures of things you might buy from a retail store. I was really wondering why they bothered doing this. I lived in GA at the time, and wondered if they stopped or just haven't found me in OR. *sigh* -- ~Jillian artist, Jillian Crider ... google me!