posted on March 28, 2001 02:44:26 PM new
From the AB (now that I have found the new version):
Date: 03/27/2001
Time: 20:35:30 PST
"This revised User Agreement and Privacy Policy are effective on March 21, 2001 for new registering users, and are otherwise effective on May 15th, 2001 for all users registered prior to March 21, 2001. Users who have selected to receive notification of changes to these policies will receive an email in the next few weeks.
Q. What are the revisions?
A. The major revisions are described below. Please be aware that while we have summarized the major changes below, there are additional changes that are not summarized and therefore, you are encouraged to read the User Agreement at http://pages.ebay.com/help/community/png-user.html to see the full text of the revisions to the User Agreement.
Generally we made a number of small text changes to make sure the User Agreement applies to auction-style as well as fixed price selling. We also fixed some of the typos such as "who's" to "whose."
Membership Eligibility. We have made it more clear that users may not transfer their accounts or their feedback to other persons. The main concern is that your feedback is left for you based on your actions and that it would not accurately reflect the reputation and trustworthiness of someone else.
eBay is Only a Venue. We have clarified what an "Online Auction" is by adding a definition. We have not changed our stance, we are still just a venue.
Bidding and Buying. We made it more clear that you must be able to actually sell the item you are listing on our site whether you list in a fixed price or an auction-style format.
Arbitration. From time to time we have disputes that are filed in court rather than through arbitration as is required by the User Agreement. This is very costly to eBay and potentially to the user involved and we therefore added a cost provision.
General. We added an assignment provision, which means we could assign this relationship to another party.
Disclosures. We updated our address because we moved and also added some language clarifying where to report disputes."
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The assignment provision reads:
“You agree that this Agreement and all incorporated agreements may be automatically assigned by eBay, in our sole discretion, to a third party in the event of a merger or acquisition.”
Although this is standard language, it looks like some review has gone on to make sure that everything is in order. This usually indicates that a change may be in the offing.
The arbitration provision appears to be a limitation of liability. A good move if you are attempting to appeal to investors or an acquiring entity.
posted on March 28, 2001 02:55:37 PM new
Pretty impressive how this is posted on 03/27/01 in a newly revised location, but it is effective 03/21/01 for new registering users.
The person that puts up the system status announcements must have been in charge of this one too.
posted on March 28, 2001 02:56:03 PM newMembership Eligibility. We have made it more clear that users may not transfer their accounts or their feedback to other persons. The main concern is that your feedback is left for you based on your actions and that it would not accurately reflect the reputation and trustworthiness of someone else.
Sounds like you can't "sell" your ebay business to someone else anymore. Atleast along w/your existing ebay ID.
SAN FRANCISCO, March 20 (Reuters) "... eBay Inc. acquired European online auctioneer iBazar S.A. in a stock deal valued at least $66 million, Miller said."
posted on March 29, 2001 07:50:46 AM new
I do not think Disney has enough cash to purchase eBay. In addition, I'm sure the officers/shareholders at eBay would prefer to have ebay stock options/holdings over Disney, so a purchase for stock would mostly likely not be appealing for ebay to want to sell.
eBay is buying companies and is expanding their business and has a great outlook in exploring new business and expanding its growth. They are in a acquiring mode of business themselves and there is little point for them to sell.
Disney stock is flat and the company's outlook in the near term is cloudly. They just laid off 4000 park employees and their internet holdings have been ounded this year. I'm sure they would love to purchase eBay to expand their revenue and earning growth, but am quite sure they do not have the cash to do so.
posted on March 31, 2001 05:14:57 AM new
Well, I received my e-mail notice of the Changes to eBay User Agreement & Privacy Policy this morning, 03-31-01.