Protecting own interests

In an intensifying battle against specialized search services, eBay, Inc. moved last Friday to deny AuctionWatch.com access to its site. The San Jose, California-based online auctioneer took technical steps to bar AuctionWatch.com after negotiations to reach a licensing agreement suddenly collapsed. According to published reports, eBay sent AuctionWatch.com a letter telling the company that it was no longer allowed access to its site without a licensing agreement. "It appears that we have no choice but to exercise self-help measures to protect our interests," wrote Michael Jacobson, eBay_s vice president general counsel. Predictably, Rodrigo Sales, AuctionWatch.com_s CEO, expressed dismay over the action and said that the company is pursuing legal action to regain access to eBay. The basis for AuctionWatch.com_s claim, he added, was that the data on eBay_s site is on the Web for anyone to see.
Bidder_s Edge, Inc., a Burlington, Massachusetts online auction service, is using the same rationale to justify its decision to ignore eBay_s cease and desist order-with which it had initially complied. "We made the decision to list eBay again in the best interests of Bidder_s Edge_s users, the online auction community and everyone who believes that the free exchange of information is essential for the success of commerce on the Web," said James Carney, Bidder_s Edge president and CEO.