eBay

spectralmedia · ‎07-12-2019

My listing for Hell's Brigade (vhs) with Jack Palance has been removed for having nazi references. I cant believe this **bleep**, they are actually removing Hollywood historical films now, they are going WAY TO FAR with this **bleep**

eleanor*rigby · ‎07-12-2019

@greg5000 wrote:
@eleanor*rigby wrote:
@greg5000 wrote:
@spectralmedia wrote:
My listing for Hell's Brigade (vhs) with Jack Palance has been removed for having nazi references. I cant believe this **bleep**, they are actually removing Hollywood historical films now, they are going WAY TO FAR with this **bleep**
Having worked in the film industry, this is not acceptable and is censorship.
First of all, eBay disallowing the OP to sell a specific movie on their site has nothing to do with the film industry, per se.

That aside, what exactly was your role in the film industry? Did your work in the industry involve researching censorship laws? Because eBay restricting the sale of ANYTHING on their site is not censorship in any legal sense of the word.

"The First Amendment protects against censorship imposed by law, but does not protect against corporate censorship, the restraint of speech of spokespersons, employees, or business associates by threatening monetary loss, loss of employment, or loss of access to the marketplace." [Emphasis added.]
It actually has something to do with the film industry, as this is a film that is being "selectively censored" on eBay. I'm sure the film industry will have something to say about this.

I've worked on both sides in the film industry, as an actor in TV/Movies and helping to produce a few projects.

I'm aware of censorship laws and "selective" targeting is not allowed. Restrictions of items/listings needs to be evenly applied across the platform and for all users. This is not the case here.

I can give you dozens of citations on whether corporations are subject to censorship (essentially, First Amendment) laws. They all say corporations, to a large extent, are not restricted.

Post one legitimate citation that says a corporation like eBay can't prohibit specific items from being sold on their site.

tyler@ebay · ‎07-12-2019

Thanks for the tag @dtexley3

Hi @spectralmedia - I would recommend checking the email that was sent along with the removal, as specifics relating to it should be included there (specific reasons why as well as if you can relist on eBay).

Did your item offer worldwide shipping? If so I'd suspect that could have played a factor, as there are countries with very strict rules regarding the depiction of Nazis in film, book, photograph or music (most commonly Germany, Austria, France, and Italy). Thanks!

Tyler,

greg5000 · ‎07-12-2019

@spectralmedia wrote:
I should clarify a bit. The rep said I CAN relist the item if I remove shipping to certain European countries. Also of note, my copy was the only one with the word nazi in the title (I think) I hate to think i have been singled out for some reason, because I have been a very dedicated seller to rated power seller for 6 years, and never peddled in hate materials, so i think it was a combination of the word nazi in the title and the swastika on the cover.

The clarification is very helpful. eBay does have restrictions to sell Nazi related items to some countries, including Germany. As I used to work for a German company, this topic is very sensitive there.

upgradedendmills · ‎07-12-2019

Selling to Europe will definitely get your movie deleted. I don't sell international at all, and that is one of the reasons. I think the last time fhey removed one of my history books it was over a picture of a Nazi flag. I don't know if the same standard applies to our Revolutionary flag, the Rising Sun symbol, or Hammer & Sickle, but am sure it does to the confederate flag and the Dukes of Hazzard merchandise. It's hit or miss.

slati_2013 · ‎07-12-2019

Nazi in the title attracted the attention, and shipping worldwide was the other reason. As others have pointed out Nazism is a very sensitive subject in Europe. In America you are free to make any claim you want about the Nazis and their atrocities. If you go to Europe and deny the Holocaust for example, you will end up in jail. Since eBay does not know what is in the movie, they cannot review every movie, they removed it.

tunicaslot · ‎07-12-2019

Ah - but can't they just look in the product catalog to find out what the movie is about! Just kidding!

greg5000 · ‎07-12-2019

@eleanor*rigby wrote:
@greg5000 wrote:
@eleanor*rigby wrote:
@greg5000 wrote:
@spectralmedia wrote:
My listing for Hell's Brigade (vhs) with Jack Palance has been removed for having nazi references. I cant believe this **bleep**, they are actually removing Hollywood historical films now, they are going WAY TO FAR with this **bleep**
Having worked in the film industry, this is not acceptable and is censorship.
First of all, eBay disallowing the OP to sell a specific movie on their site has nothing to do with the film industry, per se.

That aside, what exactly was your role in the film industry? Did your work in the industry involve researching censorship laws? Because eBay restricting the sale of ANYTHING on their site is not censorship in any legal sense of the word.

"The First Amendment protects against censorship imposed by law, but does not protect against corporate censorship, the restraint of speech of spokespersons, employees, or business associates by threatening monetary loss, loss of employment, or loss of access to the marketplace." [Emphasis added.]
It actually has something to do with the film industry, as this is a film that is being "selectively censored" on eBay. I'm sure the film industry will have something to say about this.

I've worked on both sides in the film industry, as an actor in TV/Movies and helping to produce a few projects.

I'm aware of censorship laws and "selective" targeting is not allowed. Restrictions of items/listings needs to be evenly applied across the platform and for all users. This is not the case here.
@greg5000 wrote:
@eleanor*rigby wrote:
@greg5000 wrote:
@spectralmedia wrote:
My listing for Hell's Brigade (vhs) with Jack Palance has been removed for having nazi references. I cant believe this **bleep**, they are actually removing Hollywood historical films now, they are going WAY TO FAR with this **bleep**
Having worked in the film industry, this is not acceptable and is censorship.
First of all, eBay disallowing the OP to sell a specific movie on their site has nothing to do with the film industry, per se.

That aside, what exactly was your role in the film industry? Did your work in the industry involve researching censorship laws? Because eBay restricting the sale of ANYTHING on their site is not censorship in any legal sense of the word.

"The First Amendment protects against censorship imposed by law, but does not protect against corporate censorship, the restraint of speech of spokespersons, employees, or business associates by threatening monetary loss, loss of employment, or loss of access to the marketplace." [Emphasis added.]
It actually has something to do with the film industry, as this is a film that is being "selectively censored" on eBay. I'm sure the film industry will have something to say about this.

I've worked on both sides in the film industry, as an actor in TV/Movies and helping to produce a few projects.

I'm aware of censorship laws and "selective" targeting is not allowed. Restrictions of items/listings needs to be evenly applied across the platform and for all users. This is not the case here.
I can give you dozens of citations on whether corporations are subject to censorship (essentially, First Amendment) laws. They all say corporations, to a large extent, are not restricted.

Post one legitimate citation that says a corporation like eBay can't prohibit specific items from being sold on their site.

What I said was specific to "selective censorship" (i.e. not enforcing a policy evenly and consistently for all).

If you have dozens of citations, could you post one? Just curious to see what you are referring to.

upgradedendmills · ‎07-12-2019

Sometimes reading factual history from those dark times helps put things into perspective and makes you realize how minor most of today's problems really are. The classic book "Night" comes to mind and I think anyone thinking life is bad should read it.

fern*wood · ‎07-12-2019

@spectralmedia wrote:
I should clarify a bit. The rep said I CAN relist the item if I remove shipping to certain European countries. Also of note, my copy was the only one with the word nazi in the title (I think) I hate to think i have been singled out for some reason, because I have been a very dedicated seller to rated power seller for 6 years, and never peddled in hate materials, so i think it was a combination of the word nazi in the title and the swastika on the cover.

It would have been nice for you to have included these facts with your initial post unless your goal was just to be a victim or to whip up outrage.

sharingtheland · ‎07-12-2019

@spectralmedia wrote:
I should clarify a bit. The rep said I CAN relist the item if I remove shipping to certain European countries. Also of note, my copy was the only one with the word nazi in the title (I think) I hate to think i have been singled out for some reason, because I have been a very dedicated seller to rated power seller for 6 years, and never peddled in hate materials, so i think it was a combination of the word nazi in the title and the swastika on the cover.

Ding. Ding. Ding.

I'm all for discussions about history and censorship in this country but OP left out a crucial point: It was an international listing. I think ebay brian addresses this in his post.

Sherry

=^.^= =^.^=
( ) ( )
" " =^.^= " "

flipper2flipper · ‎07-12-2019

@fern*wood wrote:
@spectralmedia wrote:
I should clarify a bit. The rep said I CAN relist the item if I remove shipping to certain European countries. Also of note, my copy was the only one with the word nazi in the title (I think) I hate to think i have been singled out for some reason, because I have been a very dedicated seller to rated power seller for 6 years, and never peddled in hate materials, so i think it was a combination of the word nazi in the title and the swastika on the cover.
It would have been nice for you to have included these facts with your initial post unless your goal was just to be a victim or to whip up outrage.

@fern*wood

Yes, I agree ..... I think that this whole message thread should be deleted based on the omission of critical facts in the original message that were subsequently disclosed.

a_c_green · ‎07-12-2019

tyler@ebay wrote:
Did your item offer worldwide shipping? If so I'd suspect that could have played a factor, as there are countries with very strict rules regarding the depiction of Nazis in film, book, photograph or music (most commonly Germany, Austria, France, and Italy). Thanks!

If I may add a technical point as well: VHS cassettes in North America are in the NTSC format. The same VHS tapes in Europe use PAL/SECAM format, and are not interchangeable. Thus, even if you did sell a VHS tape to someone in Europe, it might have come back to you as unplayable anyway. (I looked at a few of the OP's listings at random, and the NTSC standard is clearly stated there, although the significance of it is not, and all I saw are being offered to international buyers.)

escuintla · ‎07-12-2019

You know what guys?

Forgive me, but some of you are too far with your demands. Though I don't agree with censorship, common sense should be applied. Anything Nazi should be banned, period!

We lost what? 400,000 people on their hands on the beaches of Normandy and the rest of the war, Jewish people lost what? 6 million and they say there are more. Despite that, we see the Nazis marching on our streets. Really?

How on earth can you reconcile your spirit owning a helmet of the SS, or a rifle, a bayonet that went through the body of a person that didn't have any chance because they weren't combatants?

Now, we go to the same routine, rinse and repeat, there are more copies? So? That means you were fingered by a fellow seller.

I have said it repeatedly so many times, if Ebay went to enforce what the VERO program tells you (but not the other 10,000 of the same items) to take down that thing, they would be broke.

Just admit it, you are a casualty, a momentary casualty of the fingering playing its role on Ebay. I've been a victim, most us all were at some time. Keep going!

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If you haven't paid for your item, you're a winning bidder, not a buyer!
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spectralmedia · ‎07-12-2019

You agree with banning Hollywood movies with nazis? You have anger problems this isnt China

escuintla · ‎07-12-2019

@spectralmedia wrote:
You agree with banning Hollywood movies with nazis? You have anger problems this isnt China

Learn history so you don't repeat it.

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If you haven't paid for your item, you're a winning bidder, not a buyer!
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