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Another seller stealing my auction titles!

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Another seller has copied several of my designs, which aren't copyrighted so I can't do anything about it.

However, they have just copied and pasted my auction titles as their own - can I do anything about it?

Comments

  • campdave
    campdave Posts: 2,198 Forumite
    Contacted the seller, who has amended the titles already. They are just moving into my area of sales, so good to let them know they cant just steal my titles!
  • RFW
    RFW Posts: 10,384 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    campdave wrote: »
    Another seller has copied several of my designs, which aren't copyrighted so I can't do anything about it.
    If you haven't used it from somewhere else you should be able to stop them copying anything from your listing. There isn't an official way of making anything copyright. If you are the originator, you have the copyright.

    You can report them to Ebay for copying parts of your listings.
    .
  • butler_helen
    butler_helen Posts: 1,866 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker I've been Money Tipped!
    Is there not a "sell similar" option on the app? I've "stolen" titles from other sellers with this and not known it was wrong before now - I only thought I was photos which were not to be used.

    Thanks OP - I won't do it again!!
    If you aim for the moon if you miss at least you will land among the stars!
  • campdave
    campdave Posts: 2,198 Forumite
    edited 31 March 2013 at 8:16PM
    RFW wrote: »
    If you haven't used it from somewhere else you should be able to stop them copying anything from your listing. There isn't an official way of making anything copyright. If you are the originator, you have the copyright.

    You can report them to Ebay for copying parts of your listings.

    The items I sell involve slogans, which can't be copyrighted - lots of sellers in my area have their design for a slogan thats in the public domain. This seller has taken a lot of inspiration from my designs, but they haven't infringed my copyright.

    Though I am involved in an issue with another seller who has ripped my design (very poorly) from the photograph on my item. I'm waiting for a vero response on that one.
  • campdave
    campdave Posts: 2,198 Forumite
    Is there not a "sell similar" option on the app? I've "stolen" titles from other sellers with this and not known it was wrong before now - I only thought I was photos which were not to be used.

    Thanks OP - I won't do it again!!

    Photos and text - if you wouldn't lift the text from an auction, why would it be acceptable to lift the title?

    There is always going to be some crossover, but this seller had copied and pasted the exact words without even changing the order (or amending the typo!)
  • ballisticbrian
    ballisticbrian Posts: 3,985 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I had an Indian seller copy some text of mine which included my own original research. It then spread amoung all the Indian sellers (either multiple accounts of the same seller or different sellers -who knows) eBay after a bit of proding removed every listing with it in.
    I think what maybe happened, is that in China and India, there is no copyright, so it only took one person to copy me, and then they all copied each other.
    Warning: any unnecessary disclaimers appearing under my posts do not bear any connection with reality, either intended, accidental or otherwise. Your statutory rights are not affected.
  • soolin
    soolin Posts: 74,028 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Actually as has been suggested eBay themselves allow a seller to sell with the exact same title, go and try a test listing using the 'sell similar' eBay function.
    I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the eBay, Auctions, Car Boot & Jumble Sales, Boost Your Income, Praise, Vents & Warnings, Overseas Holidays & Travel Planning , UK Holidays, Days Out & Entertainments boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know.. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com.All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
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