As noted last month (see The X-Files: “Gillian’s Charity Auction”), Gillian Anderson has offered a great number of memorabilia items and “event/experiences” for auction on eBay, with all proceeds benefiting a number of excellent charity causes. The highlight of these auctions is a set of the FBI credentials used by Ms. Anderson in her role of Dana Scully in the television series, The X-Files. Yesterday, eBay canceled this auction due to a violation of policy… yet today, as well as historically, unlicensed and copyright infringing copies of this authentic prop are freely listed and sold on the auction service website.
As one of the bidders on the authentic FBI credentials, I received the following e-mail from eBay last night:
While I can understand that the offering may have been a violation of their policies, what I find very disappointing is the manner with which eBay elects to selectively enforce – and not enforce – its own policies.
What has more merit?
An actual authentic (singular) original prop of significant value, offered directly by the principal of the production, with all proceeds going to a worthy charity?
Or countless bootleg, unlicensed, copyright-infringing copies of the same item, sold for personal profit?
More, I find it fascinating that eBay makes a priority of enforcing policies to prevent charitable work through the sale of authentic movie and television memorabilia, yet takes no action on issues reported directly to eBay with a seller such as kellysheroesmilitaria (see articles).
Below is a snapshot of some of the unlicensed replica listings of reproduction X-Files FBI/law enforcement credentials and badges currently live on eBay today – just like the authentic prop that was pulled by eBay:
Below is a snapshot of those same style props sold in just the past two weeks on eBay:
As an object, with regard to eBay’s policies about law enforcement credentials, there is no inherent difference between the unlicensed replicas sold on eBay every day and the authentic prop offered by the star of the television show with proceeds going to charity.
So why would eBay elect to look the other way with large quantities of unlicensed replicas yet choose to enforce its policy one time with regard to a good faith effort to raise funds for charitable organizations?
Jason De Bord