eBay wrote me back about John Steins' "Most Wanted" deck of cards.

Actually, it took two letters. Their response to my first complaint was a stock letter saying that they wouldn't discuss other people's accounts with me but that their policy also protects my privacy.

So, I wrote them a second letter and said I wanted neither information from someone else's account nor assurances about my own. Rather, I wanted them to stop meddling with the rights of others to express their political views.

And this is how they responded:

Hello Mary,

Thank you for writing eBay. I assure you that this is a misunderstanding and that the listing was not removed because it went against anyone's political views.

ebay is a community of diverse, international groups of users with varied backgrounds and beliefs and consequently many things are allowed to be sold even though they may offend someone. The listing in question was not removed because it offended someone, nor was it removed out of political bias by one of eBay's employees, but was removed because it violated eBay policy. Please keep in mind that the actions taken on a specific listing are confidential and between eBay and the seller. We are not able to keep you abreast of any developments for privacy reasons, but we assure you that we thoroughly examine the information you provide.

Please be assured that we are actively working to remove all listings that violate policy and educate eBay sellers. If you would like to report items that violate this policy to us please familiarize yourself with the policy page, http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/signatures.html and use the "report listing violations" link located at the bottom of the page. We will evaluate the listings and take appropriate action.

We appreciate your understanding in this issue and wish you a continued successful relationship with us. Again, I emphasize that this listing was not removed out of any political bias on eBay's part, but because it violated policy.

Regards,

Jack
eBay Community Watch

The page that Jack linked me to is only about prohibited faces, names, and signatures. Is he trying to tell me that, while he can't give specifics about John Steins' violation, it had something to do with a trademarked name, face, or signature?

Has Satan McGameBoy copyrighted his beady-eyed, lizard-lipped visage?

By guy I mean the guy who listed the item.

weasels@thebushadministration.com

and his web site is:

http://www.thebushadministration.com/bush/

NEWS FLASH!!! -- Ebay capitulates! I received a phone call from an Ebay representative today (Aug. 08/03) who told me that they will not pull my 'Axis of Weasels' prints if I decide to list them on Ebay in the future. She also asked that I restrict my personal political views to the 'About Me' page and not as part of the product description.

I believe this is the result of the national press & radio coverage this story has garnered as well as the many e-mails I have received from visitors to this site stating their intent to complain to ebay on my behalf. For that I thank you and I delight in the fact that the 'small guy' can make a difference!

___________________
I guess ebay had pulled it for political reasons unless the problem was that he was stating political views in the item description.

It sounds like they're lying to me.

I would be surprised if eBay gave information to someone who was not directly involved. Even if you were the bidder they would not tell you the specific reason for ending an auction, you'd just get a canned email. Your best bet is to email the seller directly.

If it violates policy, it violates policy. Which means, I suppose, that all images that don't have releases are prohibited. Which they are not, because ebay now says its okay. So there's a policy they are not enforcing or there's no policy.

Either way, it doesn't mean a thing in the end because if you want to buy and sell things via online auctions, that's the only game in town. So, even if they stuck by the original position, it wouldn't make a bit of difference.

It's why service is so bad generally in the US. It simply doesn't matter if they piss you off; there are more customers behind you.

From the page you linked:

"Do not list an item containing the image, likeness, name, or signature of another person unless the product was made or authorized by that person."

Seems to me that could apply to LOTS of items on eBay, especially all the other crummy decks of cards. (Can the govt. really claim that Saddam authorized the use of his image on those cards?)

I say we alert on all the neocon products!

Item number: 2187035616

The axis of weasels cards. If not the same issue of Stein's, then what is their point? BTW - the cards had already been alerted.

...Hillary Clinton's likeness--without her permission, I am certain. Some are already under investigation, so maybe other eBayers are doing it, as well.

couldn't you contact Joh Stein and ask him what reason ebay gave for pulling his auction.

just a thought.

...the whole thing is laid out in his web site at http://www.thebushadministration.com.

:-)

from the site. Amazing how ignorant some people are.

http://server.iad.liveperson.net/hc/16485391/?cmd=file&file=visitorWantsToChat&site=16485391

It might be worth contacting them if you want to find out more on this issue.