Someone has plagiarized my text and photos and eBay is refusing to help me...

[goldstaroffers]

I have called eBay six times so far. I have talked to one supervisor. I have talked to the Trust and Safety department probably five times. The last person I talked to filed a new claim. Nothing has changed. It's been five weeks now. This guy has taken over $3000 in sales using my ad copy. Why won't anyone help me?

For the love of God, can someone at eBay please help me?

Thank you.

-Scott

[aproudparent2010]

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@goldstaroffers wrote:

Will do.

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Make sure they see the part where you gave eBay the rights to use your photos and text in anyway they choose.

[theteamsetguy]

@anasazirose ,

Before you do that please check with eBay’s TOS. I think it is against the rules to put a watermark on your photos you use on eBay.

[buyselljack2016]

eBay was going that route, but then, as I understand it, they backed off on that "no watermarks" idea.

[theteamsetguy]

@lakefor94 ,

That’s very good advice. I would never try and sell anything I can get from Alibaba. There are many sellers that source their goods from Alibaba which equates to a lot of competition. A lot of completion equals low margins. Confirmed by the statement by the OP that eBay sometimes makes more in fees than they do. 

Also, a lot of drop shippers source from Alibaba. 

[theteamsetguy]

@goldstaroffers ,

Winning a law suit is one but collecting is another. It costs plenty of dough to pay a lawyer for civil suite. 

[theteamsetguy]

Consumers win!

[ibuyoldstuf]

Yes They Do!

😎

Always

[lakefor94]

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@theteamsetguy wrote:

@lakefor94 ,

That’s very good advice. I would never try and sell anything I can get from Alibaba. There are many sellers that source their goods from Alibaba which equates to a lot of competition. A lot of completion equals low margins. Confirmed by the statement by the OP that eBay sometimes makes more in fees than they do. 

Also, a lot of drop shippers source from Alibaba. 

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Just a matter of time before some overseas sellers have that same line of products here and over on AMZ.   

[harafkac0]

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@toysaver wrote:

The only way to avoid this is to have your own website and go solo.

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How would this stop the intellectual property thieves?

[harafkac0]

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@goldstaroffers wrote:

Thanks for the reply. I guess I have to hire an attorney. Thanks ebay! 

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Yeah we're not ebay.

Just members like yourself, who volunteer our time on this forum to answer questions and have discussions.

I can however barely contain myself here, I am glad to see others have addressed what I so wanted to say.

[albertabrightalberta · Accepted solution]

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@goldstaroffers wrote:

 He can at least take down the text copy he stole.

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If your descriptions are your own words and your own work, you are allowed to email the seller and request that he write his own descriptions. 

This is from the policy: 

What should I do if my image, video or text is being used by another seller?

When you create listings you give eBay and its customers 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 seller and ask them to remove your image or text if it is not part of the eBay product catalog.

[goldstaroffers]

If ebay would do their job and help me, I wouldn't be so frustrated and I could think clearly.

When someone takes a dump on you, you have to return the favor or at least let them know they messed up. The Bible refers to this as "agency." The devil (the god of earth) tries to destroy man's agency. What that means, is the devil tries to convince you the opposite of what is true. He tries to convince you that there are no consequences or repercussions to your actions. "Do drugs, they aren't that bad. Screw anyone and everyone, you won't get an STD or unwanted child. Steal peoples sales copy, no one will care. Eat the apple, surly the hereditary spirit God breathed into man won't die."

[goldstaroffers]

It's a good idea... I see lots of YouTube videos that use text right in the main graphic. As for headlines, that is the most important part of the ad copy. Not too sure how that can't be copyrighted. I will send in my ad copy to the copyright office before I sue this person. The fact that he is using my words to falsely advertise his own offer is what is driving me crazy. It's one thing to cross a line, but this is in act of war. If someone doesn't step up to this guy, who knows, maybe someday he will cross a made man, and will wind up with the roof of his mouth curb stomped into the back of his face. The way I see it is I am doing Gods work. The reason why evil prevails in this world is because good people don't stand up for themselves.

[goldstaroffers]

If I only heard myself, I wouldn't be responding. It's not that I am not listening, I am just not agreeing. We have laws in this country that people died for to protect. If I have to hire a lawyer because ebay can't do their job, then so be it. I'm sick and tired of people hurting me.

[goldstaroffers]

I get your point.  I know I can win at a price war with him. I just have too much debt to pay off and plus it is not fair to my past customers if I drop my price.

I once sold an ebook using Google Adwords. After me and my competitors had a price war, I ended up just giving my ebook away for free online and added Google AdSense. I was on page 1 for my main keyword. I took out all my competition, but after Google did an algo change, I got wiped out too. I don't like price wars, but I may just have to go that route. It is an option.