Craigslist grouses about eBay lawsuit

Craigslist has responded to a lawsuit filed by eBay, noting that it "came to us out of the blue," according to a posting on its craigslist blog Tuesday.

The popular online classified-ad site issued its response after eBay on Tuesday filed a lawsuit, alleging that its 28.4 percent stake in Craigslist was diluted by more than 10 percent in January. eBay, which acquired its minority stake in 2004, submitted its lawsuit under seal and, as a result, few details are readily available.

Craigslist said it was surprised by the action, stating that eBay had not attempted to discuss the matter with the company prior to filing its complaint.

"Coming from a shareholder that views craigslist as a prime competitor, filing suit without so much as mentioning these assertions beforehand seems unethical, and hints at ulterior motives," Craigslist notes in its blog.

And what ulterior motives could Craigslist be referring to? The company alleges: "eBay has absolutely no reason to feel threatened here - unless of course they're contemplating a hostile takeover of craigslist, or the sale of eBay's stake in craigslist to an unfriendly party. In which case, they're out of luck."

Craigslist, however, is not a publicly traded company, so a "hostile takeover" is a less likely route. eBay selling its stake to another party may be something worth keeping an eye on, given that's how eBay came into its Craigslist stake in 2004.

[fredtheviking]

It ridulous what companies are allow to do.

Buying a stake in your competitor... I am also annoy by all these merger that are unlikely to benefit the consumer like MS to Yahoo. EA to Take-two. How about being innovotive and improving your services to win market share instead of buying market share.

So for getting off point, I am not sure what Ebay really has to gain, but techinically it quite possible that Ebay is in its right, I just appaled that Ebay owns a stack in Craig's List to begin with.

[T-Guy]

I don't see what's so riduculous about...

...corporations buying ownership and funding smaller/private companies. It's been going on for a while and I don't see it as a negative. Generally its a way for smaller companies to leverage the networks and expertise of other industry companies and execs, and larger companies to support nimbler innovate enterprises and gain an investment return or develop a relationship that may become a future asset.

It's not like eBay bought these shares in the open market. As I understand it, they were solited by an ex-craigslister. That's half of what I find ridiculous. If that person cared about craigslist's interests, I don't think s/he should have sold the ownership stake to eBay. The other half is eBay's actions. No warning or dialogue with a company where you have a minority interest? Bad business karma.

[greta_speaks]

JOIN US

~ JOIN THE WORLD WIDE eBay BOYCOTT ~ BE INFORMED ~

Find your State or International Location folder and join us. Former employees are welcome too!

A place to organize.
A place to unite.
A place to focus.
United we stand, Divided we fall.


http://forums.delphiforums.com/boycottebay
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zs3o3Ed3Rog
http://www.accknowl.com/

Boycott Victoriously ? While Making Noise!
Evacuate by May 1, 2008!

Please support Australia's protest and sign the petition:
http://www.petitiononline.com/ebayau/petition.html

[jes4957]

eBay is acting childish, are they breaking the law?

eBay is out to dominate any competitor they perceive as a threat to their way of thinking, even if that domination might break the law. eBay retains 24/7 legal council to deal with of any problems down the road.

The following was taken from a forum on eBay, and spelling errors were corrected:

For people who are new to the eBay boycott being supported internationally:

As per eBay's new "restructuring" policies and changes, if you want to sell on eBay, you must allow eBay to:

1. Steal your right to leave honest feedback

2. Force an unfair DSR system.

a) Punishing you for favorable ratings between "Good Transaction" & Excellent Transaction"

3. Hide your listings in "Best Matches", but not tell you how placings are calculated.

4. Force you to accept PayPal.

5. Put "WARNING" signs on your listings for not offering PayPal.

6. To refund YOUR money (via PayPal) to a customer at PayPal ?s sole discretion.

7. Withhold your funds for 21+ days, via PayPal.

8. Hide your bidders' IDs.

9. Pad their listing numbers.

10. Lie to the media.

11. Give bad customers coupons, so they will continue to abuse sellers.

12. Increase your FVF by 67%, at their whim.

13. Withhold performance discounts from you.

14. Throw away your feedback percentages, except for the last 12 months.

15. Remove your auctions and not notify you why.

16. Censor your opinions and ban you for those opinions.

17. Red flag your auctions and put others listings on them.

18. Ruin their own reputation by protecting scammers.

19. Make you pay for their mistakes.


Boycott eBay, and the monopoly they?ve created!

UNITED WE STAND - DIVIDE WE FALL!

The International Boycott IS ALIVE & WELL!

Join the N.O.I.S.E. & Boycott Feebay / Rapepal.

Boycott May 1st and beyond.

JUSY SAY NO TO EBAY! BOYCOTT IN YOUR OWN WAY!!!!



If you are boycotting eBay, please add your name to the map at:

http://www.frappr.com/?a=constellation_map&mapid=137440513566

http://forums.delphiforums.com/boycottebay/messages/?start=Start+Reading+%3E%3E

http://www.accknowl.com/index.htm

[classifieds]

Ebay classifieds are great
http://adlandpro.ws