Listing Theft

[designerbagsandaccessories]

Can any one tell me why E-bay allows sellers to steal other sellers ads, copy them word for word and steal their pictures as well. Been on Ebay 15 years and there was a time the listing would be removed, now they do nothing. Does that mean I don`t need to make up ads and take pictures I can just steal them from someone else. They have gotton so big that they don`t care what you do as long as they get paid!!!!

[z50com]

I've had other sellers use my exact title I have and I know they copied mine and didn't make it up on their own.

Nothing can be done, they think if it worked for me it will work for them

I sell mostly used items so these sellers have to take thier own pictures but that doesn't stop them from stealing my title and text.

I got over it 10 years ago. . .maybe 15

[18704d]

Watermark your pictures with your username.

Opt out of the eBay catalogue, where eBay may include your pictures for others to use.

Lynn

[a*river*runs*through*it]

@designerbagsandaccessories

When I see a seller using my pictures or text, I send the seller this email which you are free to use:

"While I am flattered that you like my listing (pic or description) I did not give you permission to use it.

It is not only against Ebay's Image and Text Theft policy and reportable, but it is also against US Copyright law.

If you do not remove it ASAP, I will have no other choice but to report you to Ebay. If it is removed by Ebay, you will have a strike on your selling account.

Thank you."

Most sellers comply.

I give sellers about 10-12 hours, then I report them & call Ebay.

Make sure you block the offending seller ID ASAP.

Here is the policy: https://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/image-text.html#report

[ebbyisme]

One of the changes to the user agreement this year is any photo you use on eBay is the property of eBay to use any way they wish. If I remember correctly (unless it was removed after the original draft) they can use it not just for the catalog, there was a stipulation they could use it for advertising or profit. So you may as well stop worrying about that. You could try to watermark it, that slows down some but they are still used. I've seen watermarked photos from competitors being used in listings, some just don't care.

They will never do anything about title, you are selling the same thing, the titles are going to contain a lot of the same words, sometimes the exact same words in the exact same order. If eBay had a problem with that, they wouldn't have a sell similar that carries over the title.... so you may as well stop fretting about that.

As far as doing the same thing, sure you are welcome to do the exact same thing (as long as you aren't using copyrighted manufacturer's work). How do you even find someone stole your work? I've never check, waste of time... especially since you already know eBay will not do anything about it.

[honestabe411]

There's nothing that can be done, despite the fact their site says it is not allowed in the link above. 

I've had sellers stea my images and copy and paste my exact description, and when I called eBay reps, they said there isn't anything they can do about it. 

I called 2-3 times and got the same answer. Didn't do much. 

Best you can do is beat their price!

[geotouloupos]

If the pictures are exactly as yours or description is exactly the same you can call ebay and report the seller who did that. I have done it in the past with success resulting in removal of the copied listing and a big warning to other seller. It will take you some time to proof but as long you have listed your item prior other seller listing or you have an item number sold that proves who was first it can be done. Ebay keeps listings history for a long time even ended and sold items.  Remember that you need to prove either exact same or cropped picture either seller discription. The process is easier for used items.

[emerald40]

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@designerbagsandaccessories wrote:

Can any one tell me why E-bay allows sellers to steal other sellers ads, copy them word for word and steal their pictures as well. Been on Ebay 15 years and there was a time the listing would be removed, now they do nothing. Does that mean I don`t need to make up ads and take pictures I can just steal them from someone else. They have gotton so big that they don`t care what you do as long as they get paid!!!!

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Watermark your photos.  That will slow these sellers down.

As far as description, I put in personal touches, which a stealer would have to cut and paste out.  In other words, if you want to steal mine you have to do some work, something lazy copycats are trying to avoid.

[slayerbrothers]

There is a seller who has stolen my adds word for word and used all of my photos. There was a time when Ebay would end their listings, now I don't even see an option to report that offense. I contacted the seller and they did not respond.

If I post a photo with a copyright in it, I get a message saying you can't have text in a photo.

I've read some helpful information on this thread but I do not understand why Ebay allows this.

[mistwomandancing]

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@designerbagsandaccessories wrote:

Can any one tell me why E-bay allows sellers to steal other sellers ads, copy them word for word and steal their pictures as well. Been on Ebay 15 years and there was a time the listing would be removed, now they do nothing. Does that mean I don`t need to make up ads and take pictures I can just steal them from someone else. They have gotton so big that they don`t care what you do as long as they get paid!!!!

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This is sort of a strange area these days.  Our photos can and do appear in Google Images routinely.  Many believe those are free for the taking.   Unless you opt OUT, your ad photos may become a part of eBay's catalog of images, free for any to make use of.

And with much of our merchandise, there are only so many ways you can 'pose' it for photos, with most sellers already knowing the classic standard angles, etc.  So you may use one background that is hard to duplicate, but many can duplicate a simple background, and... still take their own photos.  Yes, I've had photos that were mine (with little identifying additions) which I've seen here.

Title words.  Yeah... that would be hard to prove.  lol  For much of what is sold here, there are certain words you would definitely want in that title, certainly some of those words you'd want in the front half of that title, and... only so much room to work with, to chosen words would logically be pretty commonly used by sellers.  I'd expect to see pretty much the same title words without too much variance used widely in the titles of much of this merchandise.

As to text.. that's where a little goes a long way in going beyond coincidence.  Obviously the basic info is still going to be the same when the merchandise is the same, but after that descriptions often differ enough that you can pretty much know what you're seeing there, when it's just too, too much like what you wrote previously.  

[missjen831]

How does it work now that eBay owns your content and pictures though? In the UA its says they can take your contact and pictures and put them in the ebay catalog and that what's in the catalog may be used by anyone. So if the thief took the content or pictures from the catalog, can the original seller report it and get the listings pulled?

[mistwomandancing]

My guess would be that once eBay has YOUR photos in their catalog, all can make use of them from that point on.  If that photo was originally yours, I guess you'd have had to opt out a long time ago to prevent it from being catalogued now. 

[mistwomandancing]

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missjen316 wrote:

.....if the thief took the content or pictures from the catalog, can the original seller report it and get the listings pulled?

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The seller wouldn't be a "thief" if he took stuff from eBay's catalog, though.  It's for all.

If your photos, etc. are in there now, it's too late for you to decide to claim them. 

[vintagecraze50]

If I find one like that that has all my pic desciptions etc I email them anf tell them my stuff is copywrited and they ususally take it down straight away and revise theirs.

[kathieskorner]

I've had other sellers use my exact title I have and I know they copied mine and didn't make it up on their own.

If you research sold listings - the listing will have a click on "sell one like this" feature.  If you click on it - the exact title of the sold listing will appear as the title on your listing form.  I always make some minor changes, but there is nothing illegal about using the exact same title as the one that sold.   There is no copying to it - it appears automatically. 

As for photos - anyone that uses mine does so at their own risk.   I am a lousy photographer.