I want to report a seller on eBay, not just an item they are listing.

[cm19july]

A seller on eBay is selling photocopies of a knitting pattern of my own design, and I notice that they are also selling photocopies of patterns from online yarn stores (who give their patterns away for free!). 

I can see where I have to report a listing, but not being knowledgeable about eBay I can't seem to find where I report a seller and not just the item they shouldn't be selling.

Any advice would be good!

[momcqueen]

You're going to have to call Customer Service but I would advise you to do so on Monday morning during regular business hours. 

Have all your information ready and pack a lunch before you dial the phone.

You'll find the way to the number if you click on Help & Contact directly above us and then Contact eBay. Selling and Report a Member and then Call Us. Have the listing numbers (the first instance of yours and present of theirs) at hand. Be prepared to explain this to as many people as is necessary and then call back once a week until the offending listing is gone. 

In my experience, when other sellers have stolen, ahem, used my photos without permission, it is a minimum of ten calls to varying levels of Trust and Safety before it is addressed. It might take weeks but you must persist if you want anything done about it.

Good luck as you carry forward. 

[mapleleaf-collectibles]

 Selling photocopies of free patterns from yarn stores is not illegal. People try to sell anything for a buck. You may be able to get the ones you own pulled down, but I doubt that also. If it is not copyrighted by you, it would be a tough battle to prove it's yours without a good lawyer getting involved. Good luck!

[maggiebvintage2010]

A copyright is automatic for original works including yarn patterns.  Whether they are given away online/in stores or sold or just kept for personal use, they are still copyrighted material.  A copyright can also be registered - do it online for $50.00 - very easy and provides an additional level of proof in case of a court dispute.  However it is not essential.

You should report the listing that applies to you.  There is a link in each listing to do this.  If you have a current or past listing for your own pattern, use Report Item>Copyright & trademark>Images or text copied form your listing>Copied pictures or text.  If it isn't taken down within 48 hours, report it again...and again.  You could also contact the presumed copyright owners of the free patterns and advise them of the listings so they can act if they desire.  That is up to them - you cannot report to eBay on their behalf.

In addition to reporting the seller, you could contact them if eBay doesn't act for you.  An email to the seller of your copyrighted pattern asking them to take it down and reminding them of the legal protection accorded the owner of the copyright may be all that is needed.

Someone copied a listing of mine word for word.  I reported it to eBay through their link, they took it down.  A few weeks later it was relisted. - same actions.  Then it happened a third time.  That seller was removed from eBay after I reported it for the third time.