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Prohibited and Restricted Items: Overview

eBay is here to help, but as an eBay seller you are ultimately responsible for making sure that selling your item(s) is allowed on eBay and is not prohibited in the eyes of the law. Follow these steps to find out whether or not your item can be listed on eBay.

First, review eBay's listing policies. These guidelines will help you properly list items and understand what is allowed on eBay.

If you're still unsure about listing your particular item, look over the select list of items below. These guidelines and policies are designed to help you trade safely on eBay.

  • "Prohibited" means that these items may not be listed on eBay.

  • "Questionable" means that items may be listed under certain conditions.

  • "Potentially Infringing" means that items may infringe certain copyrights, trademarks or other rights. For your protection, some items here are not allowed ("prohibited"), regardless of the legality of these particular items, because they almost always breach copyright or trademark laws.

Breaches of these policies may result in a range of actions, including:

  • Listing cancellation

  • Limits on account privileges

  • Account suspension

  • Forfeit of eBay fees on cancelled listings

  • Loss of PowerSeller status

When policy breaches occur, eBay emails the seller, as well as bidders, that a listing has been ended. You may contact eBay to report breaches by using the "Report this item" link on the item page, or the "Contact Us" links found on most policy pages.

Prohibited

Aeroplane Tickets

Alcohol

Animals and Wildlife Products

Catalogue and URL Sales

Counterfeit Currency and Stamps

Counterfeit and Trademarked Items

Credit Cards

Drugs and Drug paraphernalia

Embargoed Items & Prohibited Countries

Encouraging Illegal Activity

Firearms and Ammunition

Fireworks

Franking Machines

Football Tickets

Government IDs, Licences and Uniforms

Human Parts and Remains

Lockpicking Devices

Lottery Tickets

Mailing Lists and Personal Information

Multi-level Marketing, Pyramid, Matrix and Trading Schemes

Offensive Material

Prescription Drugs and Materials

Recalled Items

Satellite, Digital and Cable TV Decoders

Shares and Securities

Stolen Items

Surveillance Equipment

Tobacco and Tobacco Products

Train Tickets

Travel Vouchers

Unlocking Software

Used Cosmetics

Questionable

Adults Only

Artefacts

Autographed Items

Batteries

British Titles

CFC and HCFC Refrigerants

Contracts and Tickets

Electronics Equipment

Food

Gaming Machines (Slot Machines)

Hazardous, Restricted and Perishable Items

Manufacturers Vouchers

Pesticides

Plants and Seeds

Police-Related Items

Pre-sales Listings

Used Clothing

Used Medical Devices

Weapons & Knives

 

Potentially Infringing (copyright & trademark)

Academic Software

Anti-circumvention Policy

Authenticity Disclaimers

Beta Software

Bootleg Recordings

Brand Name Misuse

Comparison Policy

Compilation and Informational Media Policy

Copyright Basics

Downloadable Media

Encouraging Infringement Policy

Games Software

Image or Description Theft

Importation of Goods

Keyword Spamming

Misleading Titles

Mod Chips

Movie Prints

OEM Software

Recordable Media

Replica and Counterfeit Items

Promotional Items

Trademark and Domain Name Basics

Unauthorised Copies

Important Notes:

Even if you offer to give away for "free" (rather than sell) a prohibited, questionable, or infringing item, this will not relieve you of potential liability. This applies to both seller and buyer.

This list is updated from time to time and is incorporated by reference into the User Agreement. Notice of updates to this list will be posted on the Announcement Board on the eBay website on the day of the change. These guidelines do not constitute legal advice and do not pertain to any particular company's practices. When in doubt, check with law enforcement agencies, a lawyer, the law or with a copyright, trademark or other rights owner for clarification. eBay also has adopted certain policies regarding prohibited items, regardless of the legality of the item.

Please note that the above list is neither exhaustive nor restrictive. eBay reserves the right to delete any listing that may breach any legal provision or the general principles and values of the eBay community, even if the legal provision or principles and values are not explicitly stated on the site.

You are a part of the eBay community, and, as a member, you should encourage the participation of sellers who are serious about their transactions and the posting of listings of objects that are lawful and genuine. You can report questionable items to us using the "Report this item" link on the item page, or the "Contact Us" links found on most policy pages.

Under the Verified Rights Owners (VeRO) Programme , intellectual property owners can report items that allegedly infringe on their rights.

Why did eBay end my listing early?

If eBay ends your listing early because it breaches one of our stated policies, you deserve to be properly informed. Therefore, eBay will notify both the seller and bidders via email when an auction has been ended. For additional information, visit the Why Did eBay End My Listing Early? page.

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