To: Doug Fowler who wrote (46 ) 9/4/1998 3:39:00 PM From: tiquer Read Replies (2) | Respond to
Doug,news.com General counsel Brad Handler defended the company's practices. He said customers are repeatedly notified that eBay merely acts as a site, or "venue," for people to buy and sell goods. "Our site acts as the venue for sellers to conduct auctions and for bidders to bid on sellers' auctions," the disclosure reads. "We are not involved in the actual transaction between buyers and sellers. As a result, we have no control over the quality, safety, or legality of the items advertised, the truth or accuracy of the listings, the ability of sellers to sell items, or the ability of buyers to buy items." As more consumers turn to e-commerce, regulators are grappling with how to apply established consumer-protection laws to the Net.
