A seller steals my proof pics from my listing and use it to sell their item without my permission

[autographfordummies]

A new seller on eBay has taken images from my own listing and photoshop it to use as their own to sell a questionable signed item without my permission. Is there anything I can do to stop them?

[autographfordummies]

[autographfordummies]

I reach out to the seller and send that person a friendly message to remove my photos

[fashunu4eeuh]

It used to be a policy violation for another seller to use your text or images without permission. But eBay changed the rules when they began to use sellers’ listings for their catalog program.

Now all sellers agree to allow use of our text and images at eBay’s discretion. So if your listing appears in eBay’s catalog, eBay makes that available to all sellers, and there is nothing you can do. We each gave our permission for our listings to be used in this matter. (See the User Agreement.)

However, tho it might not be an eBay policy anymore, if your text and images do not appear in the catalog, then it is still against the law for someone to steal your material, considered infringement of intellectual property rights. (In that case, you have not given tacit permission.)

The first step is to write the offending seller to request they cease and desist using your copyrighted material. Then, if they do not comply, you can seek satisfaction through legal channels. Good luck to you.

[toysaver]

There is a " report item" link on every listing and copyright infringement is the fist choice.  

[inhawaii]

Ebay wont do anything about it.  I've tried several times. Someone stole my pics and left my watermark "inhawaii" all over the picture. I have no idea why he/she would steal someone else's pictures and leave that persons username right on the picture?  Makes no sense.  

[southern*sweet*tea]

Kinda makes you miss the good ol' days of being able to hotlink  images.

[city*satins]

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@southern*sweet*tea wrote:

Kinda makes you miss the good ol' days of being able to hotlink  images.

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Those were good old days!  That was when we needed our own hosting service and didn't have eBay to upload to.

I remember some fun I had, replacing the images of items I'd sold with new images of the exact same name and address.  

[patd3283]

Or when I substituted a cow pie for a Dresden lace picture and it showed up on their listing.

Should have taken a screen shot 🙂

[teklifestyle]

Its all in the eBay user agreement Sellers can use others pictures now It use to be a option you chose now you agree to it when selling on eBay. Also its against eBay policy to put your company logo and or watermarks in your photos now so your in violation and they can remove your listing if they want to. eBay states you can request the seller remove your photo but they dont have too and eBay will not remove the listing. Also here is the information on how your photo is in violation anyways.

What is the policy?

The following are not allowed:

• Photos that don't accurately represent the item
• Placeholder images used to convey messages
• Stock photos for used, damaged, or defective items
• Photos with added borders
• Photos with added text, artwork or marketing material
• Watermarks of any type, including those used for ownership attributions

Yes I know there are alot of people on eBay in violation of images policy and I mean ALOT!

And Here is policy on using others photos

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if my image or text is being used by another member?

When you create listings you give eBay and it's members permission, through our user agreement, to use your images 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 member and ask them to remove your image or text from their listing if it is not part of the eBay product catalog.

[toysaver]

Where did you get your 'For Dummies' watermark and avatar picture?  Do you have a legal right to use them for profit? 

IDG books / Hungry Minds is the publisher and Rich Tennant is the original illustrator and both could take issue. 

You have to go into court with clean hands.  

[fab_finds4u]

You can report your intellectual property theft. GOOGLE Notice of Claimed Infringement eBay.  There will be several but the one you want will start out showing eBay contact info, address etc. to send the form and then the form follows.

[autographfordummies]

As of today, the seller took down my pictures.

[itsjustasprain]

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@autographfordummies wrote:
As of today, the seller took down my pictures.

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You were fortunate. Youre gunning for the Chutzpah Award by copying the For Dummies book series artwork as your own avatar and then complaining about others copying your images. Seriously?

[maros9416]

Precisely! Around here what the 2nd listing is doing is called ' skimming the skim '!