Someone Copied My Listing Word for Word and Listing Photo That I Took Myself

[probuiltpcs]

Is it against any eBay policy if someone makes an exact copy of your listing? I build custom PC's, and someone took my title, took my exact description and it's formatting, and even took my listing picture, which I believe would technically be my own property since I took it... I could understand if this was a specific item and I was using a stock photo, but this is a custom made item with my own picture. I looked through the reporting menu and really couldn't find an option that seemed right to me. Is there anything I am able to do about it? Either way, later today I will be changing up my description and changing my pictures, as well as watermarking my pictures.

Thanks

[abfabvintage]

Hi, a*river. About 3 years ago I was doing a price search in order to relist vintage pottery planter. I think it was a Cookson. Lo and behold, there is my exact item, pictures, specifics, script (doctored). But what this seller didn't realize by repeating the item specifics, I have an inventory number included. 

I figured a new seller as only had a few items up and newly registered. I ebay messaged, nicely told them the rules, told them to remove and to take their own pix, etc. Very apologetic seller. Removed it almost immediately. Said they used that "have something like this to sell". Didn't report since she fixed it right away and understood to not use that function...

[gopetersen]

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@computeraidllc wrote:
I have ran into this myself. I send a Vero takedown for someone copying my images because if someone doesn't look at who they are buying from they will think it is actually me that sold it to them.

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This only applies if you are a VeRO member. VeRO members are usually big companies like Sony, Disney, Microsoft, etc. You have to register to be part of VeRO to be protected as a member.

Then, if someone misrepresents your product, or lists it illegally, or uses your copyrighted images, you can report it as a VeRO violation and eBay will usually do something about it.

Individual sellers do not usually sign up as VeRO members and thus eBay will usually ignore the complaint.

[gopetersen]

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@abfabvintage wrote:

Hi, a*river. About 3 years ago I was doing a price search in order to relist vintage pottery planter. I think it was a Cookson. Lo and behold, there is my exact item, pictures, specifics, script (doctored). But what this seller didn't realize by repeating the item specifics, I have an inventory number included. 

I figured a new seller as only had a few items up and newly registered. I ebay messaged, nicely told them the rules, told them to remove and to take their own pix, etc. Very apologetic seller. Removed it almost immediately. Said they used that "have something like this to sell". Didn't report since she fixed it right away and understood to not use that function...

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eBay encourages sellers to take other sellers' listings by offering the "Sell Similar" option. Sellers are mostly clueless about copyright laws, so they use Sell Similar and then the manually copy the images as well.

In some cases it's simple ignorance. Not always though. Some sellers know they are stealing.

[abfabvintage]

Hi, gopete. I agree. But in my case it was obvious they were new and not ebay educated and used the ebay push to go ahead and copy lolol it is ok with us. I think back then I also reported to ebay that they needed to get rid of that option. Can't remember now what they did or didn't do. Probably didn't.

[thekozz7]

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@awesome-altered-apparel wrote:
Tea kettle man!
😄

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Oh my gosh, I remember that! In fact, my memory is a bit hazy on this, but on the old message boards or somewhere in the community pages there was an entire thread dedicated to pics like that. I believe it was called "Reflection P*rn" or something similar. And it was quite scary! It had men and women who apparently had an aversion to wearing clothes while eBaying!

[rainbowcolorz]

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@gopetersen wrote:

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@abfabvintage wrote:

Hi, a*river. About 3 years ago I was doing a price search in order to relist vintage pottery planter. I think it was a Cookson. Lo and behold, there is my exact item, pictures, specifics, script (doctored). But what this seller didn't realize by repeating the item specifics, I have an inventory number included. 

I figured a new seller as only had a few items up and newly registered. I ebay messaged, nicely told them the rules, told them to remove and to take their own pix, etc. Very apologetic seller. Removed it almost immediately. Said they used that "have something like this to sell". Didn't report since she fixed it right away and understood to not use that function...

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eBay encourages sellers to take other sellers' listings by offering the "Sell Similar" option. Sellers are mostly clueless about copyright laws, so they use Sell Similar and then the manually copy the images as well.

In some cases it's simple ignorance. Not always though. Some sellers know they are stealing.

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I tried the other day (just as a test) clicking on something that said "Have one to Sell?"  and I believe only the Subject Title carried over and not the description.  I know none of the photos were there.  

[div_style]

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@rainbowcolorz wrote:

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@div_style wrote:

Another story:  Years ago when I had photos hosted on another website, another seller hot-linked to some of my photos.  After I saw that, I replaced the photos with something, umm, inappropriate.   Had a few laughs about that as those photos remained on that seller's listings for several days.

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lol.  I was wondering if anyone would ever do that.  So, what IF someone saw your, umm, inappropriate photo *right away and then reported you?  Whatamess!! 

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The photos did not appear on MY listings.  I changed my listings to different photos so nothing to report me for.