So ebay wants to protect the rights of its users and break down trade barriers. I suppose the majority of companies would advise eBay that they tidy up their house and stop enabling the sale of counterfeit goods before they fight the valiant fight of open borders. Maybe…

Have you ever been prevented from buying stock because you want to sell it on eBay or other online outlets? Have manufacturers ever used VeRO to remove perfectly legitimate listings? Do you believe brand owners restrict re-sale of their goods online? Have you been told you can only sell products sourced from one particular distributor in your country?

Next week eBay will survey thousands of buyers and sellers across Europe asking them to sign a petition regarding trade barriers. This will be presented to European decision-makers asking them to amend EU competition law in order to make it harder for certain brands and manufacturers to block the sale of their products on eBay and other marketplaces

eBay was built on the principle of enabling ordinary people to buy and sell practically anything to or from anywhere in the world. It’s enabled thousands of people to turn online selling into a business and at the same time provided great deals for buyers from the widest possible selection of goods.

Brand owners (and not just those supplying luxury goods) are threatening free trade by attempting to restrict sales of their products online, or by imposing onerous conditions on sellers. According to the latest Online Business Index, two in five online businesses have experienced mysterious problems with suppliers or manufacturers which they suspected were due to selling their products over the internet.

…and:

“COUNTERFEIT clothing worth more than £500,000 has been seized in raids on eBay traders.” The Bolton News.

“A trader faces jail if he fails to pay back £90,000 which he made from selling fake designer clothing on the internet.” Hertfordshire County Council.

“A BULWELL man sold £70,000 of counterfeit clothing on eBay in just seven months.” thisisnottingham

“TWO brothers have been jailed over a sophisticated fraud involving the sale of fake goods on eBay.” Lancashire Telegraph

“North Yorkshire Trading Standards says eBay can take up to two months to provide the names and addresses of suspects it is pursuing.”

eBay is perhaps not the valiant defender of justice and liberty afterall?