Question
I ran across information on this in a magazine at work, and thought it was really interesting. Several companies are in business to track down infringement thieves - and for a price, hunt down Ebay auctions, websites, etc., that sell copyrighted material. So, it's possible that somebody with thousands of auctions can have 100 shut down immediately because they all have to do with "x product", whereas the remainder stay up, because nobody is hunting them down. http://www.markmonitor.com/news/press-021606.html (they also had a press release about Taylor Made golf clubs), and there are other companies such as Big Mouth Media and BrandIntelligence that do the same thing.
One surprise in the story (that I didn't find in the link and the emphasis is mine) says "thanks to a business partnership between MarkMonitor and eBay...can shut down a number of auctions at once...before I would have to go into each auction, click the reason why it should be shut down, send it off and then hit the back button...now...mark them all in just one click and send it all to eBay at once."
So...sometimes it definitely isn't a competitor, or a disgruntled buyer, etc., who does the turning in...it's eBay's "business partner"...
Which leads me to the thought that eBay is probably collecting money on both ends for infringing auctions, the listing fees and I presume something for shutting them down or a cut from their "partner"?
P.S. I don't have sympathy for those that knowingly attempt to sell counterfeit items...but I do now better understand now how Joe Peon's misidentified random item gets shut down followed by a cease and desist letter!
Answer
This certainly looks geared towards big players only. Nice concept though. But who inherits the legal bills? Generally a Cease and Desist letter isn't enough to shut down someone. Legal action beyond that does. But, at what expense? Is the chase worth it for the average seller. Likely not.
Answer
Many of the shut downs aren't even legit. They don't even try to make sure it's legit first. A pink admitted on the boards that the most they spend looking at the accused listing is a second, maybe two and said that was because listing violations didn't deserve any time spent on them. She ignored the fact that many are in error. Shows what ebay thinks of its customers.