Expanded Policy Bans Most Historical Artifacts Associated With Nazi Germany
And Hate Groups
SAN JOSE, Calif., May 3 -- eBay Inc. (Nasdaq: EBAY)
(http://www.ebay.com), the world`s largest online trading community, today announced
that it is expanding its listing policy to prohibit most historical items
associated with Nazi Germany, and with organizations, such as the
Ku Klux Klan, that promote or glorify hatred, racial intolerance or racial
violence. eBay already has stringent policies in place worldwide that
prohibit most hate and violence related listings. eBay also announced that it
will ban the listing of items closely associated with notorious individuals
who have committed murderous crimes within the last 100 years.
The policy changes will take effect May 17, giving eBay users the
opportunity to complete current transactions and adopt the changes, and will
apply to eBay sites around the world.
"As the eBay community expands around the globe, we are encountering
different laws and different points of view as to what constitutes illegal,
offensive or inappropriate items," said Mike Jacobson, eBay General Counsel.
"Given our expansion, as well as feedback we`ve received from our users, we
reviewed our policy and concluded that these changes are appropriate."
eBay`s existing policy disallows listings or items that promote or glorify
hatred, violence or racial intolerance, or items that promote organizations
with such views (e.g., KKK, Nazis, neo-Nazis, Skinheads, Aryan Nation).
Currently, in order to permit trading in historical objects, eBay allows items
from such organizations if the items are at least 50 years old. The new
policy eliminates this time exemption.
The expanded policy also tightens eBay`s current guidelines for items
associated with notorious murderers. Personal belongings, letters or artwork
created by such individuals, or novelty items bearing their names or images,
will be prohibited.
"Out of respect for the immediate family members of murder victims, we`ve
decided to set an even stricter guideline," said Jacobson.
eBay will continue to apply its standing policy regarding the graphic
portrayal of violence and victims of violence. In addition, eBay`s policy of
prohibiting convicted violent felons from using eBay to benefit financially
from his or her notoriety remains in place.
Examples of items that will generally be removed by the new policy
include:
-- Items that bear symbols of the Nazis and the Nazi SS, including
authentic German WWII memorabilia
-- Items that bear symbols of the KKK or other hate groups
-- Crime scene photographs
-- Morgue and autopsy photographs
-- Letters and artwork from notorious murderers
-- T-shirts bearing the likeness of a notorious murderer
-- Copies of hate/racism/violence propaganda materials
-- Electric chairs and related capital punishment items
Examples of items that may generally be listed:
-- German coins and stamps from the 1930s and 1940s, regardless of
markings
-- German WWII memorabilia that does not bear Nazi or SS markings
-- Most historical books and movies about WWII or Nazi Germany, even if
the Nazi symbol appears on the item
-- War documentaries or documentary photos portraying victims of war or
violence
-- Items of historical importance associated with acts of violence against
public figures
Please visit http://pages.ebay.com/help/community/png-offensive.html to
read eBay`s revised listing policy in its entirety.
About eBay
eBay is the world`s largest on-line trading community. Founded in
1995, eBay created a powerful marketplace for the sale of goods and services
by a passionate community of individuals and businesses. On any given day,
there are millions of items for sale on the site across thousands of
categories. eBay enables trade on a local, national and international basis
with local sites in 60 cities in the US and country specific sites in Austria,
Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, New Zealand,
Switzerland and the UK. With the acquisition of Half.com in July 2000, eBay`s
community now benefits from a marketplace that includes traditional auction
and fixed-price trading.
CONTACT:
Kevin Pursglove of eBay Inc.
408-558-7458
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