Club Obi Wan

Hi all
I woke up this morning to an email from eBay saying that my Fixed Price listing for the bag strap I have had been pulled. Apparently someone filed a complaint with eBay that my listing had the words "Indiana Jones" in the title and was not offering anything Indiana Jones related, which violates eBay policy prohibiting use of a "celebrity name" in a listing to manipulate buyers to your listing. My listing IS "Indiana Jones" related, I cant see how it could have been mistaken for anything else.

I spoke to eBay about this and was told this: I was informed that the action was taken because of a user complaint about my listing. Even though I explained that the belt in the listing only had one purpose, to be used with an Indiana Jones Costume, I was told I could re-list the belt but had to put the words "Indiana Jones Costume" in the title. I asked about the other five listings pretty much worded the same as mine and why they were not removed as well. I was told that they would also be removed unless the same change was made, as long as a complaint was filed about them.

I just cant figure why someone would accuse the listing of being misleading when it was a clear and accurate listing both in title and description.

Well, to anyone else that is offering this type of thing consider altering your listing title before your listing is removed too.

Later
Las Vegas Jones

I swear...of all the things to cry and whine about. Some people have nothing better to do with their time these days. Sorry to hear about your misfortune and hope you are allowed to relist it with better results.

i saw your listing and found nothing wrong with it......and i'm extremely picky with my gear

sometimes when i go shopping on evil-bay, my search string is simply "indiana jones"....if one of your bag straps pop up, then i think its more of a bonus than anything......most of the @#$% that comes up are used leather outback hats that have croc-teeth hat-bands and/or cheap chrome tanned A2 jackets that were made in some sweat shop that walmart couldn't sell off on a blue light special........junk, junk, junk.

i find real listings, much like your offerings, to be quite refreshing. i don't know who would complain about that and why there isn't a gearhead at ebay that would vouch for you........guess we need to get one of our own in that company

Someone over at The Raven suggested that another person selling the same type of item filed the complaint to eliminate competition.

I would like to think that wasn't the case

Well, let's not forget (before people start pointing fingers at other sellers with no proof) that the folks as LFL have been known to hand out C&D's to those trying to make a buck off their TM's. And don't think even a small seller is immune from LFL's rather large umbra - they probably have people on staff simply to search out stuff and "protect" the brand.

What suprises me is the speed at which Vegas says this happened. Recall a couple weeks ago when a bunch of people here contacted fleabay about a copy of the idol map being sold. There were a number of complaints saying it was copyrighted material and the seller was not the original artist. The auction site did not pull the auction, or at least not until the guy sold a few then made some "changes".

So maybe the report on Vegas was more than from a simple competitor. And, would someone selling the same thing with the same product description muddy their own waters by stiring that pot?

Then again, Vegas (or anyone) should know to use the name Indy or Indy Jones rather than Indiana Jones. Even the big jacket makers must call their products Expeditions or Indy Jackets or whatever.

I hope Vegas sells a lot of straps - this is America and if he's able to put out a product more power to him. Plus it's another choice for us guys who are looking for gear!

ebay auctions are typically private sales...unless LVJ has a business selling straps using the TM name.

i don't think the long arm of lucas can touch me if i decide to sell one of my HJ's on e-bay and use IJ, ROTLA, TOD, TLC, etc. to sell it.........

The person I talked to at ePay said it was a complaint from a individual not a C&D from anyone. The person that filed the complaint said I was using the name "Indiana Jones" to lure people to my listing that was NOT for anything connected to "Indiana Jones". For some reason the ePay employee that investigated agreed with the complaint.
I am not sure how they thought the bag strap was not Indiana Jones connected, it really has no other use than for an Indy costume

I'm not actually sure you can copyright a leather strap, so, I don't know if a C&D could be issued for something like that :

I didn't say there was and c&d (this would be a bit mcuh for an online auction or two) but believe me people do try to protect their brands. Would it be so unbelievable that LFL keeps an eye on things sold using their TM's?

I didn't think you said that.

I relisted both the ToD & the Raiders straps and there has been no problems
I did use the phrase "Indiana Jones Costume" in the title

I will be keeping an eye on them

The other thing I thought might have caused the complaint is if one of the people that purchased one of these on eBay couldn't figure out how to attach it to a bag, I guess it does (sort of) look like a regular belt when you take it out of the bag I send them in.

I will have to consider including a page of instructions

I think eBay is cleaning house so to speak. The individual that sells replica terra-cotta grails on eBay also was forced to remove his auctions as he can not use the words "Indiana Jones" or "Last Crusade" in the title. He had to go back and relist them as "HOLY GRAIL CUP PROP REPLICA FROM THAT MOVIE"

Is this more than just an individual complaining or more like Lucasfilm??

IndianaGear Hunter wrote: Is this more than just an individual complaining or more like Lucasfilm??

Would it be a suprise if LFL has been in contact with eBay and told them to keep things in check? Not at all given how much is selling right now because of the new movie.

Even the Garbage Plate at Tahoes is a TM'd thing, right Hunter?

I have, in the past, received a C&D and was told directly who it was from. I have never relisted the items in question.

I have no doubt that many production companies and studios have people monitoring eBay and many boards (like this one) to keep track of things, its whether or not something is worth the trouble for them to act on it.

Someone selling hundreds of a copyrighted thing is going to make anyone take notice and do something to stop it, selling one or two every so often is sometimes not worth the trouble to do anything about and is often considered just a bit of free publicity for the subject in question

I guess it just depends on who it is.