Ebay Screen Shots

matt2789 · 08-11-2009, 10:52 AM

Hello-
I am starting a website about collectable action figures. As part of my site I want to include screen shots of certain ebay auctions after they have closed and have a final "sale" price so that people can have a reference for what their action figures might be worth (these things vary greatly depending on condition of the items).
Is this legal? I can see where certain sellers might want to keep this info private so that they can drive up the auction price on other auctions. Reversely it could be argued that by me posting these screen shots I am helping them by creating an interest and demonstrating the value of these figures. Maybe if I obscured the name of the seller on the posted screen shots I would be in the clear?
Just in case it matters this is for a non-commercial website, meaning I am not selling anything here nor am profiting from advertising.

trishworks4u · 08-11-2009, 12:17 PM

I don't see why it wouldn't be legal but it would be just as easy for you to black out the seller's name if you're concerned about it. The only hang up I can think of is that only ebay members can see the results of completed auctions, meaning we have to be signed in to view them.
That shouldn't prevent you from using screen shots for informational purposes but there is probably some info on ebay's site and I know that they have a very active forum there as well.

matt2789 · 08-11-2009, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trishworks4u

I don't see why it wouldn't be legal but it would be just as easy for you to black out the seller's name if you're concerned about it. The only hang up I can think of is that only ebay members can see the results of completed auctions, meaning we have to be signed in to view them.
That shouldn't prevent you from using screen shots for informational purposes but there is probably some info on ebay's site and I know that they have a very active forum there as well.

Thanks, I may check the ebay forum. I think you might have misunderstood me though about me posting ebay screen shots. People would NOT need to log into ebay to view these posts because I will take high resolution pictures of these finished auctions and show them as graphic jpeg images. I am just wondering about the legality of taking a screen shot of such a thing and posting it elsewhere?

stuartqwh · 08-11-2009, 01:15 PM

Hi,

What about the copyright on the image(s) in the screen shot? (If there are any).
I get the somewhat upset with people using my eBay images (screen shot, direct link or out and out copying) for their own promotions if they don't ask first.
Also do eBay not protect their interest with regard to using anything from their site for other purposes?

Best dig about in the eBay Terms and Conditions.

Regards,

Stuart.

Wade Watson · 08-11-2009, 01:30 PM

EBay will take your listing down if it catches you using an image originating from another seller. This may only be after someone complains, so you might get away with it for awhile. Stil, you are in violation of eBay's rules and copyright laws.

matt2789 · 08-11-2009, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wade Watson

EBay will take your listing down if it catches you using an image originating from another seller. This may only be after someone complains, so you might get away with it for awhile. Stil, you are in violation of eBay's rules and copyright laws.

No, I would not be reposting any of this on ebay. It would be my own personal site that tracks what past ebay auctions have sold for. I'm thinking I may just need to blur out any evidence of whose auction it came from or even that it is ebay (even though everyone will already know) just for legality.

Micheallatour · 08-11-2009, 01:36 PM

Just block their user names thats all.
Other than that you should be fine.

Good Luck

jmonda · 08-11-2009, 01:50 PM

I would advise against using any images from someone elses auction. You must be very careful I have done this before and was quickly contacted about copyright infringement.

matt2789 · 08-11-2009, 01:58 PM

Documentaries and News Programs show copyrighted material all of the time without the consent of their subjects. I guess I am trying to justify this but honestly I'm not sure how my website would be any different as I am simply trying to document the resale value of certain items. If I took it a step further and even blurred out sellers names I don't see how anybody is getting hurt? I see screenshots of all sorts of websites on the National news every evening and I am sure they are not getting permission, especially when they are talking about a lot of these companies in a negative manner.

08-11-2009, 10:52 AM	#1
matt2789 Warrior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Ebay Screen Shots Hello- I am starting a website about collectable action figures. As part of my site I want to include screen shots of certain ebay auctions after they have closed and have a final "sale" price so that people can have a reference for what their action figures might be worth (these things vary greatly depending on condition of the items). Is this legal? I can see where certain sellers might want to keep this info private so that they can drive up the auction price on other auctions. Reversely it could be argued that by me posting these screen shots I am helping them by creating an interest and demonstrating the value of these figures. Maybe if I obscured the name of the seller on the posted screen shots I would be in the clear? Just in case it matters this is for a non-commercial website, meaning I am not selling anything here nor am profiting from advertising.

08-11-2009, 12:17 PM	#2
trishworks4u Floating Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: St. Petersburg, FL Posts: 483 Thanks: 45 Thanked 85 Times in 71 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Ebay Screen Shots I don't see why it wouldn't be legal but it would be just as easy for you to black out the seller's name if you're concerned about it. The only hang up I can think of is that only ebay members can see the results of completed auctions, meaning we have to be signed in to view them. That shouldn't prevent you from using screen shots for informational purposes but there is probably some info on ebay's site and I know that they have a very active forum there as well.

08-11-2009, 01:15 PM	#4
stuartqwh Warrior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Devon UK Posts: 8 Thanks: 3 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Ebay Screen Shots Hi, What about the copyright on the image(s) in the screen shot? (If there are any). I get the somewhat upset with people using my eBay images (screen shot, direct link or out and out copying) for their own promotions if they don't ask first. Also do eBay not protect their interest with regard to using anything from their site for other purposes? Best dig about in the eBay Terms and Conditions. Regards, Stuart.
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08-11-2009, 01:30 PM	#5
Wade Watson HyperActive Warrior Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 128 Thanks: 40 Thanked 16 Times in 15 Posts	Re: Ebay Screen Shots EBay will take your listing down if it catches you using an image originating from another seller. This may only be after someone complains, so you might get away with it for awhile. Stil, you are in violation of eBay's rules and copyright laws.

08-11-2009, 01:36 PM	#7
Micheallatour The New Kid On The Block War Room Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 121 Thanks: 25 Thanked 32 Times in 13 Posts	Re: Ebay Screen Shots Just block their user names thats all. Other than that you should be fine. Good Luck

08-11-2009, 01:50 PM	#8
jmonda Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Atlanta, MO Posts: 28 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Ebay Screen Shots I would advise against using any images from someone elses auction. You must be very careful I have done this before and was quickly contacted about copyright infringement.

08-11-2009, 01:58 PM	#9
matt2789 Warrior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Ebay Screen Shots Documentaries and News Programs show copyrighted material all of the time without the consent of their subjects. I guess I am trying to justify this but honestly I'm not sure how my website would be any different as I am simply trying to document the resale value of certain items. If I took it a step further and even blurred out sellers names I don't see how anybody is getting hurt? I see screenshots of all sorts of websites on the National news every evening and I am sure they are not getting permission, especially when they are talking about a lot of these companies in a negative manner.