Copyright infringement! Windows USB

[mkj0_1]

I am new to Ebay selling so this copyright infringement email and associated 3 day cessation of activity was a bit of a shock to me.  Now I have to figure out what I did wrong? 

I created a USB  Windows installer / repair stick covering a number of operating systems - Windows 7, 8.1 and 10.  No keys were involved or supplied.  Where then was the copyright infringement?  Could it have been the images I used?  They were my own but were snap-shots of installed system desktops.   Could it have been the image I used as a background for the USB?  Come to think of it this wasn't my own image.  Would something like that cause this issue?  

Is there someone or somewhere you can ask about the construction of your Ebay listing BEFORE making it live?

[luckythewinner]

I am not exactly sure what you are selling.

Are you making copies of Microsoft software and distributing it?

If so, even without the keys it may not be legal.

[aldente28]

I don't know the specifics of your situation, but on first look, I'd say you can't sell products Microsoft offers to the public for free. I'm pretty sure anyone can download that software onto a thumb drive. Seems to me this got you dinged for copyright issues.

Whatever the case, heed the warning and don't do it again. I'll venture a guess that rather than a 3 day suspension, next time your account will be suspended permanently. Just a guess, but that's what I would expect..

[mkj0_1]

What I am selling really is the ease of use of the USB.  The time and effort involved in making the USB in the first place, plus, of course,  the USB stick itself.  I am not selling the software as such.   A user could carry out the work themselves, but not to the extent I have in creating a multi-boot system without considerable effort.   Maybe a disclaimer about this is required? 

The software is free by the way.  The Product Key is where the cost lies and these are not provided and I stated so.

Surely this must be an image issue as there are others selling the same thing - or similar - and have been for quite a while. 

[rosszonebricks]

Directly from Microsoft Terms of Use:

"Unless otherwise specified, the Services are for your personal and non-commercial use. You may not modify, copy, distribute, transmit, display, perform, reproduce, publish, license, create derivative works from, transfer, or sell any information, software, products or services obtained from the Services."

So you are copying, distributing, creating derivative works ... and selling.

[mkj0_1]

Well that seems pretty definite.

Back to the drawing board then ...