Expert: Marvinator - 6/1/2004

Question
I want to sell a book on ebay.  I have been told i can copy the photos put on ebay by other sellers.  However, when i "save as" the picture seems to be irretrievable.  Its suffix is .art, and my computer says it can't figure out which program it was created with.  Do you know what I'm doing wrong?

thanx         jan

Answer
Thanks for asking this question.  Though I get this question a lot as a seller, no one has asked anything that would allow me to address this on AllExperts.  

First, whoever told you that you can copy photos from other Ebay sellers is incorrect.  Although anyone is physically able to save a photo and re-use it in their own auctions, it is against the law in some areas, especially California and Ebay follows the laws in California.  

Why?  If I take a photo of an object and use it for an auction, there is an implied 'creator's copyright' that goes with it.  I don't have to place a © on the photo, nor do I need to place a disclaimer ("All photos are copyright by blah blah blah") There is an inherent 'creator's copyright' in any photo which must be adhered to and Ebay will back this copyright.  

What I recommend is that you write to the seller of the auction (after the end of the auction) and explain to them that you are selling a similar/identical item and do not have the ability to take a good photo.  Ask if you can use the photo in another Ebay auction.  Now, since you're asking a seller who's auction is over and who's item (hopefully) sold, they will not be in competition with you and may allow you access to the photo.  If not, you should not use it without permission.  

Lastly, when you save a photo, you right click and select "Save Photo As".  Before you click SAVE, you can change the "SAVE AS TYPE" in the bottom row.  You can change the type to any compatible format, such as .bmp or .jpg.  Once you have made the change, you can click SAVE and use the photo with the right program.

I hope this has helped you.