VERO: Yep, another Apple listing question. I'm an idiot I guess :)

[foundobjectsgal]

So, can I assume I'm an idiot? I was going through things in my garage and pulled down a box (yes a full box) of BOXES of apple products we have bought over the years. We never buy second hand for these and always from Apple directly so I opened each box to see what was inside and figure out if we still need to hoard these boxes. I fought no less than 4 of the wired airpods/earpods they used to provide. Two in a  plastic case (the best packaging ever) and two in  a cardboard case. Both original. What is an ebay seller to do? I popped them onto ebay yesterday. Today I wake up to counterfeit alert and a message that a listing was removed. I had to search that letter to figure out where I  went south and then immediately removed and deleted any Apple listings. 

Is Apple a VERO? Is there an actual living breathing VERO list out there? And since I deleted, do I need to do anything else to grovel? The account wasn't impacted or taken down but clearly I need to pay better attention.

Thanks for being kind in the smacks back. 🙂

[heckofagame]

Verified Rights Owner (VeRO) policy | eBay

Verified Rights Owner Program | Seller Center (ebay.com)

[slippinjimmy]

Anyone who is the legal owner of any IP rights can file a Notice Of Copyright Infringement with eBay. They do not need to be a Vero "member" and even if they are they do not need to be on eBay's public list of Vero members.

Vero is an eBay program not a club, it is simply something to streamline the filing of infringement notices under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. The act requires that Marketplaces provide simple method for notices to be filed and to take action in a swift and consistent manner. Doing so will allow them to utilize the Safe Harbour provisions of the DMCA. If they they fail to establish these programs and respond as appropriate then they (eBay) would be equally liable (with sellers) for any infringement that took place on their site.

With some high profile (and litigious) brands eBay will preemptively remove listings before the brand/IP owner can file a claim. Years ago eBay lost several lawsuits (LV, Tiffany) because they were not acting "fast enough" to prevent the listing of fakes. Those cases cost eBay BILLIONS of Dollars!

I'm curious, did by any chance your listing for earpods (wired) contain the word airpod (wireless)? Irrespective of copyright issues that alone could get your listing pulled.

[foundobjectsgal]

Hmm. I copied the verbiage before I deleted them. I don't think I had AirPod wireless anywhere in there since they were wired but did def have wired. I get that I was in the wrong. I didnt even think about it which is foolish but in my defense, I'm recovering from a bout of Covid! Good info on the Vero program. I need to educate myself more. 

[toomuchstuffagain35]

There are certain brands where you could show a letter of authenticity from the company CEO  and the listing would still get taken down as counterfeit.