Tiffany & Co. Blue Cardboard Box ...eBay Listing Removed: Trademark Violation - Unauthorized Item

I was selling a Tiffany & Co. blue gift box on eBay yesterday -- until I got the message I have included below.

The box is the real thing, a pretty blue box from Tiffany & Co. A gift came in it many years ago. I found it cleaning out the attic and thought maybe someone on eBay would like to buy it. It is in good condition and seemed too nice to go in the cardboard recycling. eBay's stance on this item seems unreasonable. Its not counterfeit. I did not put the Tiffany & Co. logo on a box I painted blue. What if this was a Tiffany & Co. ring or a crystal vase -- don't I have the right to sell something that I own regardless of its brand name? Tiffany & Co. does not sell their boxes (though I am sure the pretty signature packaging is figured in the cost), but how can they control what customers do with the boxes once they leave the store. 

If you are interested in a Tiffany & Co. blue box, dimensions: 7.5 H x 14 W x 9 D ins. good condition, the bidding was up to $3.00 when it got pulled.

eBay Listing Removed: Trademark Violation - Unauthorized Item The listing was removed because it violated eBay policy.

We notified members who placed bids on the item that the listing has been canceled. Trademark infringement is unlawful and violates eBay's policies. A trademark is a unique sign (such as a name, word, phrase, logo, or symbol) that a company uses to identify its products and/or services. Using another company's trademark in a way that may confuse buyers about the source of goods or services, or confuses buyers into believing that the seller is affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by the trademark owner is both illegal and against eBay's policies. Examples include counterfeits, unauthorized replica items and items that bear the brand or logo of a company without that company's permission.

Guideline: If the product you are listing bears the brand or logo of a company, but it wasn't made or authorized by that company, don't sell it on eBay. Sellers are not permitted to list items that encourage or enable others to infringe another party or company's trademarks, or that provide instruction that would enable and encourage others to commit such acts. For more information visit the following Help page: http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/encouraging.html [1] For more information visit the following Help page: http://pages.ebay.com/help/tp/trademark.html [2] To take the intellectual property tutorial, please visit: http://pages.ebay.com/help/tutorial/verotutorial/intro.html [3] Please be aware that any additional violations of this policy may result in the suspension of your account. eBay understands that you may be concerned about this situation.