Not to belabor the point, but I just received this through the Indiana listserv which states eBay's position. I think each of us who wrote eBay concerning these tombstone auctions are to be commended for bringing this to their attention! -Linnea ------------BEGIN FORWARD--------------- >Delivered-To: [email protected] >MIME-Version: 1.0 >Date: Wed, 5 May 1999 14:35:41 -0500 >Reply-To: "Stephens, Larry V" <[email protected]> >Sender: SuperList of Genealogy Lists <[email protected]> >From: "Stephens, Larry V" <[email protected]> >Subject: stolen tombstones at auction >To: [email protected] > >It has been reported on several lists that tombstones and grave markers - >allegedly stolen - are being sold on the Internet auction service eBay. > >Below is further information that has been forwarded to me. PLEASE NOTE: >Please don't ask me about the information below. After you read it you'll >know as much as I do. > >------- > >I received the following information from Rob Chesnut, >Associate General Counsel for eBay. The company >has been made aware of the legitimate concerns we >have regarding the auctioning of used grave markers - >an act which is both offensive and criminal. If you have , >questions or comments you can contact Rob Chesnut at >(408) 558-5948 or [email protected] . >=========================== > >FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE >May 4, 1999 > > eBay has recently been contacted by citizens who have expressed concern >over the fact that several historical tombstones have appeared for sale on >the eBay site. We share your concern, and will not permit these items to >be sold on our site. This release is intended to answer several questions >that have been raised in connection with these items. > > First, eBay does not sell or possess the items on its site. eBay is a >venue where users post items for sale, and sellers complete transactions >directly with buyers. eBay does not, and has never, possessed any >historical tombstone. > >Second, as an Internet Service Provider, eBay cannot and does not >pre-screen items posted on its site. While eBay rules strictly prohibit >the posting of illicit items such as tombstones, it cannot guarantee that >all its users will abide by these rules in posting items for sale. > >When eBay learns that an illicit item is on its site, it promptly removes >the item. However, with approximately 2 million items for sale at any >given time, and with over 250,000 new items placed on the site each day, >some illicit items may go unnoticed for several days. We depend on our >community to work with us in locating and identifying illicit items so that >we can quickly remove them. > > In this case, eBay has promptly removed every tombstone brought to its >attention, informed the sellers that such markers are not allowed on the >site, and refunded all fees in connection with these auctions to ensure >that eBay has in no way received money for this activity. To discourage >future listings of tombstones on the site, eBay will also be posting rules >on its site shortly regarding the sale of artifacts which will specifically >inform users that the sale of historical tombstones is illegal in many >states and is prohibited on eBay. > >eBay has received information that at least some of the items brought to >our attention are not tombstones, but historical grave markers given to >families of Civil War veterans. In many cases, these grave markers were >never actually used as grave markers, but kept by families as mementos. In >those instances, the markers are not stolen property, and if they were >never used as for tombstones their sale may be lawful. eBay is >investigating whether these items can be lawfully sold, and will post >information on the site when it makes a final decision. > >eBay will be contacting law enforcement and encouraging authorities to >investigate whether historical marker posted on its site was stolen. eBay >will cooperate fully in any investigation of illegal activity, and will >provide records to law enforcement on the sellers of any illegal item. eBay >appreciates the efforts of those who have contacted us concerning these >postings. Concerned law enforcement authorities or interested citizens may >contact Associate General Counsel Rob Chesnut at (408) 558-5948 if they >have further questions on this matter. >