When does a $2.33 transaction turn into a superior court case?When it happens on eBay.A dispute over a piece of smoky quartz normally would have been of little consequence to Kiel Sturm, who was selling the stone on eBay. But when a Los Angeles buyer made defamatory remarks that threatened to forever mar Sturm’s online reputation, Sturm was forced to begin a yearlong legal battle to get the comments removed from eBay.The squabble is another example of how user feedback on such sites can force ordinary people into time-consuming court proceedings to defend their reputations against remarks that can damage their business, because the comments remain online.Even after Sturm obtained a court ruling stating that he had been defamed, eBay’s lawyers continued to resist removing the remarks because the notice from small claims court was in the wrong format, forcing another round of court filings.
MercuryNews.com | 08/09/2006 | EBay lawsuit reveals foibles of site feedback
christie fox on November 15th, 2006 at 11:09 pm
I ran into nearly the same thing with a seller on eBay in December of 2005 and am working on the case now. If Mr. Sturm would be good enough to provide a copy of what he submitted to the court that got his feedback removed (including the court order), I would be most appreciative. If we can help each other in these quibbles to counter eBay so we don’t have to spend a mint to clear our good names and receive income again (and keep eBay honest, even though they won’t accept responsibility), well let’s do it. Thank you.