Is it illegal to create then sell accounts on web 2.0 sites, profile sites, forums?

[AshleyAA]

Hi, I was wondering if anyone knows if it is illegal to register accounts on a site, then sell them to people?

Sites like youtube, scribd, hubpages, squidoo and forums?


I have an idea for something, but part of it would invovle that.

Ashley

[Jayson L]

Here's my thought on this one. If you tell them they own the site, then you are misrepresenting a bit. If you tell them, heres the user id and password, but neither one of us really ownes this then no I think that is more then honest. It is a benefit to the new "owner" whether they own it or not though. If you had a lemonade stand with a reputation at a local public park that made a profit and sold the location to someone and told them it was theres for the profit it would be of value wouldn't it. In reality though all you sold them was the exposure you built up.

[AshleyAA]

Yeah I just mean selling the login details.

So for what I want do, the person would need a new account on squidoo, so I give them login details that I have already done. This would be done on a large scale.

And essentially I would be selling them the username and password to the site in question.

Illegal? ... Or no?


Ashley

[banks]

It would most likely depend on the TOS of the individual web properties regarding giving access to third parties.

You aren't really selling the "account" but your labor/services in creating them.

[gravtex]

I checked and there are services out there already selling access to already setup accounts, so you should be okay selling login information.

Gary

[kindsvater]

It is not illegal, though you check the contractual terms on a site for any potential issues.

[mark z]

To be honest, most of main sites have strict defined Terms Of Service.
And they mainly strictly prohibit selling of accounts to other persons or third parties.

See, if you try to hire some freelancers for creating accounts, site administrators of main freelance market sites will surely cancel the project (or even ban your account).

They know that it is strictly against theirs TOS.

Now, would you define it like illegal?
It would be wise to consult some real legal expert about it.

[AshleyAA]

hmmm okay thanks for the replies, I am getting some mixed responses so I am unsure of what to do.

But when you think that backlink builders, like directory submission services give you the login details afterwards, that is kind of the same.

Or paul and angelas backlink service, even though they do it for you, they still give you the login details aftwerwards.

I will have to look at the terms of service of the sites I want to use.

Thanks!

Ashley

[Kevin Williams]

These 'mixed' responses are from people who haven't even been on the forum a month. There are tons of services that sell or build squidoo lenses, so I'm sure it's legal.

[Kay King]

'mixed' responses

Actually, would be smart to take Kindsvater's advice - he's an attorney.

kay

[Michael Taylor]

Well, you can transfer a lens to another Squidoo account, so it's not the same thing.

[AllyW]

I've done a lot on Squidoo and have quite a few Lenses -- it's definitely okay to sell Squidoo Lenses. Don't know about the other sites.

[CLcrax23]

I would find it hard to believe that it was ILLEGAL to do this. May be a violation of the TOS, yeah...maybe....but Illegal? I wouldn't think so. Just my opinion. People sell Myspace accounts all the time. Doesn't mean its legal, but Im just sayin'.

[Matt M]

Within Section 8 of Squidoo's TOS is the following:

"...you have our approval to start a service or services offering lens-building, lens analysis, lens inspiration,..."

I would still send an email to whatever site you planned on doing this and asking your question about transferring site accounts for the exchange of money.

Also, one would be setting themselves up for trouble if they did not inform their client that the hosting site such as Squidoo, Blogger, Hubpages,...could cancel the account per the TOS.

Matt

[Mr Money Maker]

you may be wasting time selling something like this......better to create your own websites and sell what you really own.

[kindsvater]

Here's a few examples that might help people out:

I own Acme Marketing that has a Warrior Forum account. I then sell Acme Marketing to you. You now own that Warrior Forum account.

No problem.

I have a Warrior Forum login, don't want it anymore, and give / sell it to you.

No problem.

Unless of course, that means you go around impersonating an attorney because everyone thinks you're "kindsvater" the attorney but you're really "smith" the plumber.

That is a problem.

I own an eBay affiliate account and sell it to you. eBay might have a very big problem with that. Not because any law has been broken, but because eBay wants to control, approve, and know who they are doing business with. Then you have to look at your account's contractual terms.

What if the terms are silent on the issue?

Unless you know from the context of whatever website you're dealing with that is not permitted, I cannot think of any law this would violate.

As noted above, context is everything and the original question is incredibly broad.

[AshleyAA]

Originally Posted by kindsvater

Here's a few examples that might help people out:

I own Acme Marketing that has a Warrior Forum account. I then sell Acme Marketing to you. You now own that Warrior Forum account.

No problem.

I have a Warrior Forum login, don't want it anymore, and give / sell it to you.

No problem.

Unless of course, that means you go around impersonating an attorney because everyone thinks you're "kindsvater" the attorney but you're really "smith" the plumber.

That is a problem.

I own an eBay affiliate account and sell it to you. eBay might have a very big problem with that. Not because any law has been broken, but because eBay wants to control, approve, and know who they are doing business with. Then you have to look at your account's contractual terms.

What if the terms are silent on the issue?

Unless you know from the context of whatever website you're dealing with that is not permitted, I cannot think of any law this would violate.

As noted above, context is everything and the original question is incredibly broad.

Cool thanks. I would only be selling the login info for sites that are merely social media sites, forums, ect. Nothing like ebay or anything serious like that(ones that require a credit card to sign up).

I am in the process of going through the sites right now, looking for whether they say you cannot sell, transfer or give away your account. So far none. So I think I am good to go, just a few more to go through.

Thanks A lot for the advice!
Ashley