eBay being sued over patent infringement

From: Geoff Reed <geoffr_at_zipcon.net>
Date: Thu Apr 24 16:04:01 2003

At 09:56 PM 4/23/03 -0500, you wrote:
>On Wednesday, April 23, 2003, at 08:40 PM, Mail List wrote:
>
>>That's right here in the next town over. If it's an open courtroom I could
>>go over there and check it out.
>>
>>I don't know about eBay and patent infringement, but I think eBay
>>has a monopoly on the online auction market for private individuals
>>which might warrant anti-trust action. I don't think a private individual
>
> The fact that an entity may be the only viable player on a given field
> doesn't "warrant anti-trust action." If eBay is actively doing anything
> to hinder their competition, other than doing what they do VERY well, and
> marketing it well, *that* might warrant action.

They are, the state of Illinois? has a new law that was pushed through
with the help of ebay requiring the operators of any Internet auction site
to register with that state "if any potential sellers or buyers reside
within the state" at a fee of $200. of course you also have to find an
auctioneer to "sponsor" you and you have to take state approved courses to
maintain the registration (auction calling, and the like) :( the state is
getting ready to start filing civil lawsuits seeking damages of up to
$10,000 and the shutting down of the offending sites if you don't comply.

  For small auction site operators like my wife (she hasn't made any $ from
the thing yet and it's been running for > 6 months) that state's
requirements are onerous.
Received on Thu Apr 24 2003 - 16:04:01 BST