Plagiarism (Blatant Copying) of Item Description on ebay

__lsx__

Has anyone suffered from having their item description for a current ebay auction almost carbon copied and used by someone else?

If you can be bothered this is my auction 170186579350, just take a look at 110216264363!!

Are ebay any good at reacting this kind of thing, or should I just grin & bear it?

frivolous_fay

I'd report it. I've had listings pulled before for that reason.

__lsx__

What you mean you got someone else's listing pulled because they copied yours, or you copied someone elses??

I considered sending the seller something un-friendly, but I guess that won't help my case.

Thanks for the reply btw

frivolous_fay

__lsx__ wrote: »

What you mean you got someone else's listing pulled because they copied yours, or you copied someone elses??

The first one of course

__lsx__ wrote: »

I considered sending the seller something un-friendly, but I guess that won't help my case.

You could always send an invoice for the use of your copyright material. People have been known to pay up!

BigCraigJohn

http://contact.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ContactUs&wftype=2029&rcode=VE%25X00135&subject=Report%20link&bcrumb=+Home+%3E+Help+%3E%A0Rules+and+Policies%A0%3E%A0Rules+for+Sellers%A0%3E%A0Rules+about+Intellectual+Property%A0%3E%A0Item+Description+and+Picture+Theft&instruction=&expirationDate=

Try that.

moneypooh

I've had the same done to me - even copied my photo!! It was so obvious:mad:
I had it pulled and the seller had a report against them. Strangely I only found out because my buyer pulled out to buy his after my auction finished.(his was cheaper) I contacted ebay and my buyer got himself a non-payer strike too.

ElegantlyWasted

In this instance, I doubt if eBay will do anything. It looks like you've both just copied and pasted the same manufacturers information, and used the same font.
The 'personal' bits of your listing are different, such as the postage information, and the pictures are different.

StaffsSW

Always worth checking where the OP got their description from - if both have simply C&P'd the text from the manufacturers website, then it's pointless either one reporting the other, as neither can claim true Intellectual Property over it.

If you do C&P from a website, be sure to transpose a few characters around in the words. Likewise, with most of the lengthier descriptions I write, although I ensure they are spell checked, I will purposely add a few "sutble" typos, then google the text a few weeks later to see how many copies have been made!

__lsx__

My original that took an hour or so of my time one night:-

....................................................................THANKS FOR LOOKING..........................................................................

UPDATED - NOW WITH FREE POSTAGE (FIRST CLASS RECORDED DELIVERY)

The Philips DA1102 digital radio & mp3 player combines crystal clear digital audio from a DAB receiver with the ability to play MP3/WMA audio files including 1GB internal memory. It's lightweight, high quality and easy to use on the bus/train or out and about. I even use mine in the car through my in-car stereo!

The DA1102 is certified as a 'Plays Windows Media' device and as such appears as a USB mass storage device within 'My Computer' in Windows (So no drivers are required... truly plug'n'play), meaning transferring files is as simple as connecting the USB cable from your PC to the DA1102 and dragging/dropping music tracks onto the player. That said you can use the DA1102 with a variety of software (itunes/musicmatch/winamp etc) to handle the track downloads for you, which is likely to be convenient if you are moving recompressing your files between pc and DA1102.

The DA1102 comes in Brand New Condition in a vacuum sealed container, with 1 year manufacturer's warranty from Philips. They are not for sale anywhere else, only here on ebay uk.

BOX CONTENTS

DA1102 DAB Radio
Philips Information Leaflet/Warranty Card
Quick Start Guide
User Manual
USB2 Cable
2AAA Batteries
A pair of in-the-ear phones with 3.5mm male jack (so other headphones work with the DA1102 just fine)

SPECS

DAB Digital Tuner for a digital-quality & crackle-free listening experience
1GB non-mechanical (i.e. not a hard disk) flash memory for quick access and low power consumption
1Gb equals about 250 MP3s or 500 WMA tracks
Backlit display screen for maximum screen visibility
Plays MP3 (8-320 kbps and VBR) & WMA (5-384 kbps) with Plays Windows Media Certification
Quick Autotune Facility with 20 Presets for remembering your fav. stations
Takes power from 2 x AAA batteries with ~10 hours playback on standard Alkalines
Unit size is 59 mm x 95 mm x 17.5 mm so it fits in a trouser/jacket pocket
Weighs about the same as a mobile phone ~100g

For more information and technical specifications the user guide for the DA1102 can be found on the Philips Website

DELIVERY & EXPECTED TIME TO DISPATCH

The Delivery Options can be chosen from:-
FREE RM 1st Class Signed For (Recorded)
£3.50 for RM Special Delivery Next Day before 1pm (no delivery on saturdays)

PAYMENT

Paypal within a 5-7 days of auction end plz

I aim to process all orders on the evening of the day payment is received, so you can expect minimal delay before receiving your DA1102.

Please check out my return policy below and email me for anything you'd like to know.

The listing I claim is a copy...

Brand New sealed, guaranteed to work or money back, buy with confidence see my feedback.


The Philips DA1102 digital radio & mp3 player combines crystal clear digital audio from a DAB receiver with the ability to play MP3/WMA audio files including 1GB internal memory. It's lightweight, high quality and easy to use on the bus/train or out and about. I even use mine in the car through my in-car stereo!

The DA1102 is certified as a 'Plays Windows Media' device and as such appears as a USB mass storage device within 'My Computer' in Windows (So no drivers are required... truly plug'n'play), meaning transferring files is as simple as connecting the USB cable from your PC to the DA1102 and dragging/dropping music tracks onto the player. That said you can use the DA1102 with a variety of software (itunes/musicmatch/winamp etc) to handle the track downloads for you, which is likely to be convenient if you are moving recompressing your files between pc and DA1102.

The DA1102 comes in Brand New Condition in a vacuum sealed container, with 1 year manufacturer's warranty from Philips. They are not for sale anywhere else, only here on ebay uk.

BOX CONTENTS

DA1102 DAB Radio
Philips Information Leaflet/Warranty Card
Quick Start Guide
User Manual
USB2 Cable
2AAA Batteries
A pair of in-the-ear phones with 3.5mm male jack (so other headphones work with the DA1102 just fine)

SPECS

DAB Digital Tuner for a digital-quality & crackle-free listening experience
1GB non-mechanical (i.e. not a hard disk) flash memory for quick access and low power consumption
1Gb equals about 250 MP3s or 500 WMA tracks
Backlit display screen for maximum screen visibility
Plays MP3 (8-320 kbps and VBR) & WMA (5-384 kbps) with Plays Windows Media Certification
Quick Autotune Facility with 20 Presets for remembering your fav. stations
Takes power from 2 x AAA batteries with ~10 hours playback on standard Alkalines
Unit size is 59 mm x 95 mm x 17.5 mm so it fits in a trouser/jacket pocket
Weighs about the same as a mobile phone ~100g

For more information and technical specifications the user guide for the DA1102 can be found on the Philips Website

__lsx__

ElegantlyWasted wrote: »

In this instance, I doubt if eBay will do anything. It looks like you've both just copied and pasted the same manufacturers information, and used the same font.
The 'personal' bits of your listing are different, such as the postage information, and the pictures are different.

Does the description in the post above really look like manufacturers info? I sold the first of many of the same item on Jan 2 2008, and I've been using more or less the same description since then, just changing the title from 'BrandNew' to 'New Sealed' & occasionally varying the postage. This can be seen by both searching through the completed auctions for Jan & clicking on the item auction numbers on my feedback page. So it's not as if it looks like I copied as I've sold 31 of these since Jan 2 (with 10ish in my feedback already) and the alleged Copier is selling his first as we speak.

jebervic

Does it really matter??, personally I couldn't give a damn if anyone copies mine, I look upon on it as a compliment.