Without knowing the context of the quote you posted I can only guess.
I presume someone is copying your listing text, presumably you have reported this to eBay and they have not taken satisfactory action.
The next step is to join the VERO programme, if you are accepted (and I don't know the qualifications) you can pretty much have ANY listing on eBay pulled. Under the VERO program eBay will pull ANY listing that you claim violates your IP rights, you have to prove NOTHING.
When you compose the text of a listing (or the images) you automatically possess the copyright you do not need to do anything at all (a copyright notice accompanying the text is useful but I'm not even sure that you need even this). Copyright is not the same as Trademark or Patent protection which does have to be registered and approved by the government authority charged with this task.
Caveats:
Like I said I don't know any of the details of how to become accepted into the Vero program.
I'm not sure if there is a Vero program in Canada or if you must follow and be governed by US laws.
If you make a claim you do open yourself up to a countersuit, the big boys with their on staff legal departments are better able to defend these suits over a small time seller.
If you make false claims it can bite you if somebody decides to challenge you.
Proving copyright is easy if you write a book and somebody copies it word for word or at least large portions are copied. Proving copyright for a small amount of commonly used text is much more difficult and if the "violator" makes even minor alterations it's next to impossible.
I'm NOT a VERO expert, I have some IP/copyright experience but not so much relating to US laws and further my experience is dated and for example totally predates the DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act).
Not sure if this is any help.
I presume someone is copying your listing text, presumably you have reported this to eBay and they have not taken satisfactory action.
The next step is to join the VERO programme, if you are accepted (and I don't know the qualifications) you can pretty much have ANY listing on eBay pulled. Under the VERO program eBay will pull ANY listing that you claim violates your IP rights, you have to prove NOTHING.
When you compose the text of a listing (or the images) you automatically possess the copyright you do not need to do anything at all (a copyright notice accompanying the text is useful but I'm not even sure that you need even this). Copyright is not the same as Trademark or Patent protection which does have to be registered and approved by the government authority charged with this task.
Caveats:
Like I said I don't know any of the details of how to become accepted into the Vero program.
I'm not sure if there is a Vero program in Canada or if you must follow and be governed by US laws.
If you make a claim you do open yourself up to a countersuit, the big boys with their on staff legal departments are better able to defend these suits over a small time seller.
If you make false claims it can bite you if somebody decides to challenge you.
Proving copyright is easy if you write a book and somebody copies it word for word or at least large portions are copied. Proving copyright for a small amount of commonly used text is much more difficult and if the "violator" makes even minor alterations it's next to impossible.
I'm NOT a VERO expert, I have some IP/copyright experience but not so much relating to US laws and further my experience is dated and for example totally predates the DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act).
Not sure if this is any help.
There is an 'Item Description and Picture Theft' policy, which states...
eBay members are not allowed to use another eBay user's pictures or descriptions in their listings or About Me pages without the owner's permission.
Violations of this policy may result in a range of actions, including:
Listing cancellation
Loss of eBay fees
Limits placed on account privileges
Loss of PowerSeller status
Account suspension
Examples
A seller doesn't know the best way to describe an item. The seller copies a substantial amount of another member’s description and pastes it into a listing.
A seller uses someone else's picture and includes it in a listing, since it looks very similar to the item the seller is offering.
A seller likes the way a competitor's About Me page looks. The seller copies the look and feel and a substantial amount of the text and creates an About Me page.
Some are misled, (as I was...), as to what exactly is a "substantial" amount of text taken from another listing? The generic description of the item? The size and weight measures? Highlighting the text in the same manner as another listing for accentuation? There are only so many ways to describe an item before duplication begins...
I am fully aware that from a marketing perspective, it is not 'what' you present, but rather 'how' you present it, that makes the sale...
The safest approach, is to become totally familiar with any and all aspects of the poduct(s) you are listing, and create a unique description drawn from your own information, not from someone else's description of a similar product. Individual perspective allows for individual interpretation of how an object should be described.
The internet is a vast resource to aid in gaining knowledge about anything in the world. Researching your product before listing it will give you a unique perspective, and will ensure you don't take the 'lazy' way out, and take someone else's description 'verbatim'...
A lesson well learned by this poster...
My apologies.
eBay members are not allowed to use another eBay user's pictures or descriptions in their listings or About Me pages without the owner's permission.
Violations of this policy may result in a range of actions, including:
Listing cancellation
Loss of eBay fees
Limits placed on account privileges
Loss of PowerSeller status
Account suspension
Examples
A seller doesn't know the best way to describe an item. The seller copies a substantial amount of another member’s description and pastes it into a listing.
A seller uses someone else's picture and includes it in a listing, since it looks very similar to the item the seller is offering.
A seller likes the way a competitor's About Me page looks. The seller copies the look and feel and a substantial amount of the text and creates an About Me page.
Some are misled, (as I was...), as to what exactly is a "substantial" amount of text taken from another listing? The generic description of the item? The size and weight measures? Highlighting the text in the same manner as another listing for accentuation? There are only so many ways to describe an item before duplication begins...
I am fully aware that from a marketing perspective, it is not 'what' you present, but rather 'how' you present it, that makes the sale...
The safest approach, is to become totally familiar with any and all aspects of the poduct(s) you are listing, and create a unique description drawn from your own information, not from someone else's description of a similar product. Individual perspective allows for individual interpretation of how an object should be described.
The internet is a vast resource to aid in gaining knowledge about anything in the world. Researching your product before listing it will give you a unique perspective, and will ensure you don't take the 'lazy' way out, and take someone else's description 'verbatim'...
A lesson well learned by this poster...
My apologies.
To be a Copyright Owner in Canada you MUST register your Intellectual Property with Industry Canada
Who told you this?
From the CIPO (Canadian Intellectual Property Office) website:
You do not have to register your copyright to have protection in Canada
http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/sc_mrksv/cipo/cp/copy_gd_regis-e.html#1
Who told you this?
From the CIPO (Canadian Intellectual Property Office) website:
You do not have to register your copyright to have protection in Canada
http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/sc_mrksv/cipo/cp/copy_gd_regis-e.html#1
Recped.......go to court without a Registered Copyright and see how far you get.
Been there, done that, registration of copyright is almost meaningless, I've been on both sides and easily won in both situations.
Perhaps you are confusing with Trademark protection which is an entirely different matter that does require official registration.
Been there, done that, registration of copyright is almost meaningless, I've been on both sides and easily won in both situations.
Perhaps you are confusing with Trademark protection which is an entirely different matter that does require official registration.
