Foreign Bootleg Sellers Stealing my Watermarked Photos

martyjump · #1 03-31-2019

Is there anything I can do about this? They're stealing my photos that have been watermarked. I've been dealing with this for a while now. At first I watermarked them with my user name. When they kept stealing them I started watermarking them with "SHIPS FROM USA" but stopped tagging them with that because I thought it would make ME look like a drop shipper/foreign seller.

I called eBay about it but basically they told me if I wasn't a VERO member there wasn't much I could do. I've messaged the seller stealing the photos and surprise, surprise... no response either.

It's frustrating but the funny thing is the one's they've been stealing recently are marked with SHIPS FROM USA and the item location is in Indonesia.

slokor · #2 03-31-2019

Doesn't sound like theres anything left to do about it.
Maybe place your ebay name on the pictures (if its not already on it)? And if it is - free publicity from your competitors - not a bad thing...?
Just trying to see the silver lining.

nickopedia · #3 03-31-2019

There is an effective way to deal with people stealing your photos.

Serve a formal notice of Claimed Infringement to eBay's Legal Department in San Jose. Send it return receipt requested or by FedEx.

The NOCI is basically a legal demand letter that will force eBay's hand, they WILL be forced to deal with it and remove the other members content.

If you need the right forms, you can get them at your courthouse or from a site like Legalzoom.

agent006140 · #4 03-31-2019

or send the form filled in but not sent to the seller

nickopedia · #5 03-31-2019

Quote:

Originally Posted by agent006140

or send the form filled in but not sent to the seller

I've also been told eBay can't do anything in these types of situations. That's simply a bunch of crap.

It's all about using the correct documents and wording. I have access to a paralegal and legal forms for a lot less than what a lawyer would cost.

Most people want to take the easy route and phone eBay to complain about a competitor using their pictures or products, and that rarely yields effective results.

walkingupwards · #6 03-31-2019

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickopedia

I've also been told eBay can't do anything in these types of situations. That's simply a bunch of crap.

It's all about using the correct documents and wording. I have access to a paralegal and legal forms for a lot less than what a lawyer would cost.

Most people want to take the easy route and phone eBay to complain about a competitor using their pictures or products, and that rarely yields effective results.

Can't OP simply register with the Vero program and take down the listings?

phaz0rz · #7 04-01-2019

People copy my entire listings all the time, and I'm usually able to get them taken care of just by clicking "report listing".

Tried that, OP? Slim chance but it's a little easier than any of your alternatives.

ebaystealth1974 · #8 04-01-2019

Quote:

Originally Posted by phaz0rz

People copy my entire listings all the time, and I'm usually able to get them taken care of just by clicking "report listing".

Tried that, OP? Slim chance but it's a little easier than any of your alternatives.

I haven't done that in years. Do they still let you enter the reason for reporting?

phaz0rz · #9 04-01-2019

They do. The categories they give you to choose from aren't as specific as they used to be, but it still works for me.

walkingupwards · #10 04-01-2019

Quote:

Originally Posted by phaz0rz

They do. The categories they give you to choose from aren't as specific as they used to be, but it still works for me.

@phaz0rz:

Can't OP register with Vero and take down the listings that are stealing his pics?

phaz0rz · #11 04-01-2019

I've never tried, but yankee has been saying for years that will work. It's never been that much of a concern for me.

**SaiJin** · #12 04-01-2019

Really? eBay won't do anything? I guess something must have changed since the last time I did it, but I just reported the seller, show them that it even has my watermark and name and their listings get removed.

ebaystealth1974 · #13 04-01-2019

Quote:

Originally Posted by SaiJin

, show them that it even has my watermark and name and their listings get removed.

thought we weren't allowed to use watermarks anymore?

walkingupwards · #14 04-01-2019

Quote:

Originally Posted by ebaystealth1974

thought we weren't allowed to use watermarks anymore?

I and a bunch of other sellers in my category use watermarks with no disturbance at all!! If you want to use watermarks, I would say go ahead, but don't be too aggressive. Make them somehow mild and unnoticeable.

ebaystealth1974 · #15 04-01-2019

Quote:

Originally Posted by walkingupwards

I and a bunch of other sellers in my category use watermarks with no disturbance at all!! If you want to use watermarks, I would say go ahead, but don't be too aggressive. Make them somehow mild and unnoticeable.

Hell, people in your category are using straight up text in their pics! I used to, in that category, back in the day.

cafonabob · #16 04-02-2019

Wow. This is an eBay/paypal limitation forum. Everyone here has much bigger problems than "someone is copying my photos"

cafonabob · #17 04-02-2019

You should go to a cancer hospital and tell the nurse you need a doctor fast because you have a hangover and need aspirin.

phaz0rz · #18 04-02-2019

Quote:

Originally Posted by cafonabob

Wow. This is an eBay/paypal limitation forum. Everyone here has much bigger problems than "someone is copying my photos"

Speak for yourself. Tens of thousands of members here and most of us are well past dealing with suspensions.