Fergie's Tech Blog

French Government Watchdog Says eBay is Illegal in France

Via OUT-LAW.com.

A French Government watchdog is trying to shut down eBay in France. The Council of Sales regulates auction houses and has said that the site should be bound by strict French auction rules.

The French eBay site does not have one of the Council's permits to operate as an auctions service and so does not have to abide by regulations which were made law in 2000. This, said the Council, gives it an unfair advantage and should change.

“This is unfair competition, because other auctioneers have to make sure they are transparent and that they provide guarantees,” Council chairman Christian Giacomotto told The Times newspaper. "Our ambition is not to regulate the world, but we want groups such as eBay to accept their responsibility.”

The Council has filed a lawsuit against eBay in France and hopes that a court will rule that eBay is an auction house and must abide by French rules.

posted by Fergie @ 12/05/2007 08:06:00 AM