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Other Sellers copying listings

Aaarrrggg! I realize that you can select the "sell similar" button and use someone else's listings as a guide for creating your own. But there's some Schmo seller out there who has copied my entire listing verbatim - even copied all of my pictures - and is basically using a carbon copy of my listings as his own.  About six of them (for items we both seem to have). It's absolutely infuriating!

 

As I understand things, eBay allows this sort of thing, but I've never seen someone plagiarize the entire listing. I'm basically working for him! 

 

 Thanks for letting me vent... 

Message 1 of 45
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44 REPLIES 44

Re: Other Sellers copying listings

Apparently, unless you actually own the copywrite registered and all formal, anybody can take any bodies listing photos, and use them. Again, one must be extremely careful with this . One reason I do not like it is that people can look like us, but there are definately NOT US, with our extremely good rep. Then folks can confuse our rep with their rep and contact us mistakenly. That is messy stuff. People who sell generic name brand can get away with that fairly well but still, it is better to be set apart, in some way by varying your offerings.

Message 16 of 45
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Re: Other Sellers copying listings

100 percent agree to this solution. 

Message 17 of 45
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Re: Other Sellers copying listings

Ebay really needs to stop this practice. It is not a good thing as it can cause a lot of confusion, bad sales, returns, not as described, flaming mad buyers, etc etc.

Message 18 of 45
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Re: Other Sellers copying listings

Your photographs are copyrighted the moment you press the shutter.  You don't need to do anything.  There are extra protection in registering them, but that isn't realistic for most of us.  But, it probably doesn't matter, here is how eBay gets around it: 

9. Content

When you provide content using our Services (directly or indirectly), you grant us a non-exclusive, worldwide, perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free, sublicensable (through multiple tiers) right to exercise any and all Intellectual Property Rights you have in that content in connection with our provision, expansion, and promotion of our Services, in any media known now or developed in the future. To the fullest extent permitted under applicable law, you waive your right to enforce your Intellectual Property Rights in that content against eBay, our assignees, our sublicensees, and their assignees in connection with our, those assignees', and those sublicensees' use of that content in connection with our provision, expansion, and promotion of our Services.

You represent and warrant that, for all such content you provide, you own or otherwise control all necessary rights to do so and to meet your obligations under this User Agreement. You represent and warrant that such content is accurate. You represent and warrant that use of any such content (including derivative works) by us, our users, or others in contract with us, and in compliance with this User Agreement, does not and will not infringe any Intellectual Property Rights of any third party. eBay takes no responsibility and assumes no liability for any content provided by you or any third party.

Message 19 of 45
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Re: Other Sellers copying listings

Your items are showing in his listings unless he has 'sponsored' all items. 

 

So, just beat his price and 'sponsor' at 1%; your items will show in his listings so you may get the sale. 

Message 20 of 45
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Re: Other Sellers copying listings

gjs_16
Guide

Sell items only you have (one of a kind).

Problem solved.

Message 21 of 45
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Re: Other Sellers copying listings


@mygrneyesf wrote:

I did send him a message - he had the audacity to offer to sell me his stock! I can't report him because I don't think his conduct - reprehensible as it is - actually violates ebay policy. Just boils me in oil! 


I had a run in with someone who was a serial copier of my listings a long time ago. He clearly bookmarked my store for that. I messaged him and politely said the whole spiel. At first he played dumb and claimed they weren’t copies of my listings/photos. That he created up them himself. After calling him out on his bluffs, he finally started to speak more candidly admitting to his theft but ended with “Come try and sue me then.”

Message 22 of 45
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Re: Other Sellers copying listings

The user agreement you accepted when joining eBay trumps all of that.........

 

When you create listings you give eBay and its members permission, through our user agreement, to use your images, videos 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.

********************************************************************
I have been imported from Australia and this is my posting ID
Message 23 of 45
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Re: Other Sellers copying listings

Include a watermark in your photos. Use your user ID, and put it in a place where it would take a lot of time to remove it.

Message 24 of 45
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Re: Other Sellers copying listings

I Have been going through the same B.S!, It should not be allowed!, Title Should Always Be Changed!, Falls On Deaf Ears!

Message 25 of 45
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Re: Other Sellers copying listings

Not true on eBay your images not copyrighted in the world of eBay  unless eBay Vero Department essentially says so

Message 26 of 45
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Re: Other Sellers copying listings

You would still have to get it copyrighted for eBay Vero to care

Message 27 of 45
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Re: Other Sellers copying listings

auctionairecorp
Trailblazer

Most sellers will run for the hills and immediately delete a competitor seller photo by simply emailing them to remove the picture.

Message 28 of 45
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Re: Other Sellers copying listings

Not sure about elsewhere, but in Texas, you can sue. A close friend of mine currently has a lawsuit filled in Texas because someone stole several of his entire listings. Also has a lawsuit against ebay for allowing it to happen.

Message 29 of 45
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Re: Other Sellers copying listings

Tried that - no luck 

Message 30 of 45
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