posted on February 17, 2003 04:56:15 PM new
I use Sales Manager EXCLUSIVELY to list auctions, and never list to eBay outside of AW, so I never need image hosting services.
Imagine my surprise to find that in my account history I've been charged for image hosting on auctions that are not mine, basically image theft.
These users are not stealing images per say, they are stealing image hosting. Instead of just copying the image and using AW or eBay or someone else to host it, they are letting me pay for their hosting.
I've been informed by another party I know that uses AW that this is a big problem for them, on many, many auctions over the past few months, and they just noticed it today, which is what prompted me to look.
First to the AW mods:
1) How do we get our fees credited back to our accounts?
2) How do we contact eBay to report this, since they're doing something through eBay that is incurring costs on someone else?
3) How can we prevent this from happening? (if it's possible)
Thanks.
[ edited by icebox13 on Feb 17, 2003 04:57 PM ]
posted on February 17, 2003 05:53:18 PM new
Hello icebox13,
If you are receiving charges for images that are being used by a third party, please contact the user and ask them to cease and desist. Using someone else's copyrighted images is against eBay's rules and regulations, so we would urge you to notify eBay as well.
You may request a refund for the image hosting charges associated with the stolen images. Here is a link to our refund request form:
Note that you will need to enter the Ref ID number from your statement for each erroneous image hosting charge. If there are more than 25 line items, please let us know.
Here are some suggestions that may help with this problem:
1. The best way to avoid this is to watermark your images. There are many programs available that will allow you to do this in bulk. A user recommendation is Thumbnail Refinery, available at www.slideshow-refinery.com.
2. Insert javascript into your listing's description that will disable right-click. You will find many scripts available on a Google search. You must be very careful when inserting javascript that you do not alter the script in any way. Note that this is not foolproof - users can still view the source code of the page to obtain the URL.
3. If you notice that your image is being used in an active auction, and you are not currently using it in any of your auctions, delete the image. This will remove it from our server and it will no longer be displayed in the auction. Note that this will only work if the user has inserted your image URL into their listing. If they have copied your image and uploaded it to their own server, you will need to contact them or notify eBay of a copyright infringement.
Unfortunately, eBay eliminated all of their email address contacts for support, so you will have to use their contact us form directly from the eBay website to report them.
