eBay now using AI to remove listings, fails terribly.

[quadcitypickers]

I got a Vero claim for "reusing images". 

I sell tons of new-in-box items and always reuse stock photos. Never had an issue.

But...the takedown was "based upon automated information".

Even worse, the claim, although automated, did not come from the manufacturer of the product, but another small eBay seller.

eBay also included their personal email address, which seems like a privacy violation.

I reached out to the seller to see if they had any claim or copyright to the images, they said no.

I traced the source image to manufacturer in China. 

So now eBay is using AI to take my listings down for reusing images that were not their images to begin with?

1. You have to be registered with Vero to make a claim. This seller is not registered with Vero.

2. Vero claims are supposed to be made by the rights owner. This claim was "made by an eBay agent using automated detection".

[ebooksdiva]

Since eBay doesn’t tell you who reported your item how do you know it came from another seller? 
You’re just guessing. 

Sellers can be a Vero rights members and not be in the list. 
If you received a Vero take down don’t list it again. 

[albertabrightalberta]

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@quadcitypickers wrote:

I got a Vero claim for "reusing images". 

I sell tons of new-in-box items and always reuse stock photos. Never had an issue.

But...the takedown was "based upon automated information".

Even worse, the claim, although automated, did not come from the manufacturer of the product, but another small eBay seller.

eBay also included their personal email address, which seems like a privacy violation.

I reached out to the seller to see if they had any claim or copyright to the images, they said no.

I traced the source image to manufacturer in China. 

So now eBay is using AI to take my listings down for reusing images that were not their images to begin with?

1. You have to be registered with Vero to make a claim. This seller is not registered with Vero.

2. Vero claims are supposed to be made by the rights owner. This claim was "made by an eBay agent using automated detection".

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@quadcitypickers 

My explanation is based on personal knowledge of what is going on. 

What you received is a legitimate VeRO takedown notice after a rights owner filed a NOCI (notice of claimed infringement) which is ebay's version of DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act). 

I've filed them and when listings are removed, my name and email address are included on the notice the ebay member receives so they can contact me to tell me why they don't think they're in violation. 

One does not have to be on the "VeRO list" in order to claim infringement.

It sounds like you stole pictures that belonged to another seller and that seller reported. Although ebay (IMO, incorrectly) allows members to use others' pictures if those pictures are in ebay listings, if a seller sells on another website and has the same pictures, they can report the pictures as having been used without authorization and get your listing removed. 

Instead of taking the lazy man's way by using companies' or websites' stock images or using other sellers' pictures to sell similar items, why not put effort into taking your own pictures of the actual items?

Understand that a VeRO takedown on your account is a serious violation, more serious than a removal of a listing violation. 

I don't believe VeRO removals are done by AI. I think human eyes have to look at the listings to compare and see that the claim is valid.

[ittybitnot]

and always reuse stock photos.

@quadcitypickers 

Where are you getting these "stock photos"?   

eBay allows sellers to use the photos/text from other seller's listings on the site once they are listed here.  Snagging the pics and descriptions from other sites, not so much especially if the "rights holder" complains.  That would clearly be labeled as a "VERO" violation.   You are told that is what it is with instructions and information to contact the said "rights holder".   If you snagged a photo from another eBay seller that "stole" it in the first place, you may have issues as well. 

Then there are simply eBay takedowns.  These are likely automated, but they are never attributed to another eBay member.  It would be interesting to see a copy/screenshot (with personal information removed)  of the communication you received from eBay.  I assume it was in your messages? 

[redcat114]

AI is running ebay not 1 acual person can answer any question or solve a sellers issue what ever the computer screen tells them thats your answer. im not a robot . looks like big problems with ebay all around