posted on January 29, 2001 01:15:20 PM new
Before you decide to persecute me for that remark, let me explain.
(The following is NOT my opinion; I have a different take on this.)
A friend of mine has been catching up on the VERO's and how they act. He's scoured a ton of websites looking for gripes about VERO's (which also includes a few sources here as well).
He's concluded that some (if not many) VERO's are abusing the DMCA (ending auctions that don't relate to their copyright, closing LEGIT auctions of their wares, etc.) and are engaging in Monopolic-type practices (basiclly stifling free trade a/or only allowing certain folks to sell their wares while cutting the competition as his main points).
Also, he thinks that eBay's Appeals system is grossly thought out to the point that it also stifles free trade. To put it bluntly, he says: "eBay shot themseleves in the foot with VERO."
I don't know what he's assembling per say, but he is a Liason with the DOJ.
Anyway, what do you make of it? Is his analysis right (or partially right)?
As I said, I have a different take on copyrights, but it doesn't concern eBay.
:\\\"Crystalline Sliver cannot be the target of spells or abilities.
posted on January 29, 2001 03:02:47 PM new
As a (bogus) representative of Parker Brothers, I must ask you to cease and desist using the name "Monopoly" as it infringes on our trademarked game. You may use the word without a capital "m", but we will still frown upon such usage.
Sorry...I'm in this weird mood. The absurdity of what we deal with each day sometimes gets to me.
posted on January 29, 2001 05:12:46 PM new
Yikes! I've been found out. My ID is one of my son's Pokemon cards. I guess I'll give it back, if you say so.......
posted on January 30, 2001 04:27:28 AM new
http://www.auctionwatch.com/mesg/read.html?num=2&thread=254275&id=254275 has some VERO defense information.
Any time someone pulls the VERO claim against you, FIRE BACK to eBay with a properly filled-out challenge form. THE VERO *MUST* FILE SUIT AGAINST YOU OR EBAY *MUST* RESTORE THE AUCTIONS within the time limit. That's the way the law works
posted on January 30, 2001 05:55:33 AM new
I think the VERO policy has good intents but it is abused by some copyright holders. I've seen ads pulled simply because an ad contained a copyrighted name, even though it was just a straightfoward description of the item.
Also, there should be some policy whereby the company or persons would be required to contact the seller. This might be labor intensive, but I think a lot of auctions are being VERO'd simply by allegation, without proof of copyright or even ownership of that copyright.
While eBay certainly has a lot to manage and police, the VERO campaign leaves many areas totally untouched. There is nothing more annoying than to be searching for a particular item, only to find that auction you've just discovered only contains the copyrighted name in the title as a hook. It's a pain in the a$$. In the fields that I commonly browse, copyright infringement (by eBay's standards) is blatant and rampant.
posted on January 30, 2001 05:58:20 AM new
figment -
I've never beer VEROed, so I don't know. However, when the Waverley Fabrics VERO was wiping out auctions that were offering new and discontinued Waverly fabrics, they STOPPED doing it right after a couple of sellers filed the retort, and told them they were way out of line with their claims to copyright violations.
posted on January 30, 2001 06:01:04 AM new
They offered to restore my auction. Problem is, they suspended me becuase of it so I couldn't restore it! Kinda like a "Catch 22".
I also believe that allowing a person to restore an auction after ending it is a bit like publishing an apology on page 17 of the local newspaper after making the accusation on page 1. Once eBay ends an auction, the seller's reputation is damaged - especially if the auction had bids when it was pulled.
eBay needs to figure out a way to investigate potential problems BEFORE convicting and punishing the seller just like in the real world. Maybe some kind of temporary halt on bidding while they investigate. I don't know how they could make this work, but it does seem to me that the number of people fed up with their "guilty until you can prove yourself innocent" policy is growing ...
posted on January 30, 2001 06:20:34 AM new
As was said earlier...If you are VERO'd, fill out the forms and you can get it reinstated...
Why is it only the innocent have to jump through all the hoops??????? The guilty and the abusers have free rein to do whatever they want and whenever they feel like it....
