Shouldn't it be illegal.....

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: for people to sell downloaded/burned copywritten movies? Like, I don't know, let's say, Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back. Yeah, I thought so EBAY, screw you! : ahh, it's ok. : : For anyone one out there who's been paying close attention to the : : little auctions we've been running here - or to you pervs who only go : : there for the photos - eJay will now be known as 'Auctions Askew' : : This is due to an e-mail that we received from the eBay legal : : department regarding the use of a logo which was similar to theirs. : : The e-mail reads as follows: : : -------- : : Date: Mon, 18 Mar 2002 14:56:20 -0800 : : From: "Healy, Brett" : : To: "'ming@viewaskew.com'" , : : "'webmaster@viewaskew.com'" , : : "'viewaskew@viewaskew.com'" : : Subject: RE: Unauthorized Use of eBay's Intellectual Property on : : VIEWASKEW : : .COM : : : Hello, : : We wrote to you over a month ago (see below) about the "e-Jay" : : auction : : section of your website. We haven't received a response and the : : e-Jay logo, : : which mimics the famous eBay logo, remains featured on your : : homepage and : : many other pages. : : While we have a sense of humor and I'm personally a fan of Kevin's : : films : : (I'm originally from NJ), the use of the "e-Jay" name and logo must : : stop. : : As the owner of some valuable intellectual property yourself, I'm sure : : you : : can understand that the owner of a famous trademark must protect it, : : no : : matter how innocuous the infringing use may seem. Yours is not a : : case of : : pure parody; you are using a confusingly similar version of the eBay : : trademark to sell your products for profit. This could lead to : : consumer : : confusion and to a dilution of the eBay brand. : : I truly hope that we can resolve this quickly and amicably. Please let : : us : : hear from you by March 20, 2002. If you would like to discuss this on : : the : : phone, please let me know how to reach you. : : Thanks, : : Brett Healy : : Intellectual Property Counsel : : eBay Inc. : : -----Original Message----- : : From: Pub-Enforcement : : Sent: Thursday, February 21, 2002 4:57 PM : : To: 'viewaskew@viewaskew.com.' : : Subject: Unauthorized Use of eBay's Intellectual Property on : : VIEWASKEW.COM : : : : Dear View Askew: : : : : We recently learned that elements of the site operated at : : http://www.viewaskew.com/cgi-bin/auction.pl mimic the famous eBay : : logo and : : trademark. : : As you are aware, eBay is a leader in person-to-person online : : trading. : : eBay adopted the name and trademark EBAY in September 1995, : : and since that : : time eBay has actively used both the name and trademark EBAY in : : connection : : with its online trading and related services, including maintaining the : : web site www.ebay.com . eBay owns : : numerous : : trademark registrations in the U.S. and internationally, including : : related : : common law rights, for the EBAY word mark as well as the distinctive : : design and colors featured in the well-known eBay logo. : : eBay has made a substantial investment in developing and : : providing its : : services and has acquired a tremendous amount of goodwill and : : brand equity : : in the EBAY name and logo design. The commercial nature of your : : auction : : activities precludes any argument that your use of "eJay" and the : : corresponding logo is a fair use. While we respect your right to : : conduct : : business on the Internet, we must protect our valuable logo and : : associated : : goodwill. We request that you immediately cease all use of the name : : "eJay" : : and the imitative logo on your site. : : We look forward to your written confirmation that you will resolve this : : matter as requested. Your prompt attention and response to this : : matter : : will prevent the need for further action. : : Sincerely, : : Edith : : eBay Legal Department : : ----------- : : No need to flame eBay or send them nasty e-mails - as ludicrous as : : this charge may be - were working this out amicably. If you'd like to : : send them an intelligently worded letter of diagreement - the e-mails : : are above. : : Thanks

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