Ebay Counterfeit item custom lego issue

[jason-sellz]

Two of my listings were removed even though similar listings have been fine for both me and other competition sellers using the word lego or Lego to say it's either lego compatible or custom printed on lego parts. LEGO means the product was manufactured entirely by LEGO company.

What people do is buy old cheap LEGO minfigures, erase the printing so it's white underneath and print over it either with UV printer or with decals. That's why for some of my listings I say lego and say UV printed in the description.

I accidentally said printed on LEGO parts in messages instead of "lego parts" with a buyer and ebay monitors messages, I think that may be why the listing was taken down. Is there any way to petition this by saying "printed on LEGO parts" I did not mean, and I do not think the buyer thought "lego parts manufactured and printed by LEGO", because these are customs of course.

Hello jason-sellz,

We had to remove your listing because it didn’t follow our Counterfeit item policy. We don’t allow counterfeit items, replicas, or unauthorized copies.

What activity didn't follow the policy

More specific details are provided below.

What you need to do next

Items removed for this policy cannot be relisted. Please ensure that your future listings are for authentic items only. For these items, they should be described accurately and completely, so buyers know that it is an authentic item.

What is the policy

- Counterfeit products are illegal and not allowed on eBay. Examples include:
-- Fakes, copies or replicas of brand name items (for example, a shoe with the Nike name or logo that wasn’t made by Nike)
-- Electronics or accessories that use or bear the brand name, logo or trademark of a company that didn’t manufacture the item
-- Bootleg recordings from concerts or other live shows
-- Unauthorized or pirated copies of movies, videos or software
- Listings with photos that hide or blur trademarks are not allowed
- If you’re not certain that your item is authentic, or if an authenticator has been unable to confirm its authenticity, it may not be listed
- We may remove listings if we receive buyer complaints that the item is not authentic. These items may not be relisted

How this affects your account

Because you may not have been aware of this policy, we're sending this notice to educate you about it and ask that you follow this policy in the future.

- Listings that didn't follow this policy have been ended. 
- We have credited any associated fees except for any final value fee for your listing(s). 
 
Listings that don't follow this policy in the future will be ended.

Why we have this policy

This policy prevents the sale of counterfeit items, which are illegal, and could expose sellers to legal risk. Removing them protects sellers and their buyers from buyer protection claims and financial loss.

[ms.rodriguez*]

Your listings were removed. Do NOT even think about relisting them. The next time, the bots will find it, end the listing and give you a minumum of a 3 day suspension.  I know because I got one years ago for relisting a toy cap pistol that was still sealed and was tiny, about 1 1/2" long.   IF you see other listings, those sellers have not been caught.    Ever got ticketed for speeding and while the cop writes the ticket, at least 20 cars speed by?  You got caught and they did not.    Find something else to sell.    Or sell this item elsewhere.

[fashunu4eeuh · Accepted solution]

The problem is that once a listing is removed, even if in error, it is too great a risk to attempt relisting. That is because of the probable chance of it being removed again, and you can be hit with a suspension. eBay penalties are cumulative. Any subsequent violations will be given longer suspensions. Then you can be done selling on eBay. We hear this scenario often enough that i would never relist a removed item. You will need to tread carefully now that you are on the eBay radar.

You can go to eBay’s Facebook for Business page and send a message to the reps there if you want to appeal. They are better trained and have authority to help. Keep in mind that just because past listings were allowed or you see others keyword spamming, doesn’t mean it is ok to do it. Lego brand is very hands-on with protection of their name and logo.

[redstarrobot_vintage_toys]

I would stay away from selling any custom lego item. LEGO vero will come after you like no tomorrow. I personally had this happen and now I can't even use the word "technic" in any listing. 

[klhmdg]

You will not be able to relist without the BOTs removing them.

Next time there may be a suspension. 

Now that you have been caught they will be watching all your listings. 

[gone.c-33]

LEGO is very protective of their trademark. They have also trademarked the name “Minifigure”. They also released a statement against using other trademarks (such as Star Wars) to customize Minifigures.

https://www.thebrickfan.com/protecting-the-lego-minifigure-trademark-official-statement/

Regardless of how your listings were worded, LEGO doesn’t allow those to be sold to protect their trademark. 

[jason-sellz]

Ok, I won't relist it's not worth it. 

[dbfolks166mt]

Ok, I won't relist it's not worth it. 

     I sell a lot of Lego brand name sets and mini-figures but I also on occasion sell other "building block" items that are similar to Lego's or Lego compatible but I never list them on eBay I utilize other sites and forums but even then I never use Lego or Lego compatible anywhere in the title or description. 

     Lego is VERY protective of their copyright's and trade marks.