Posted by Jerry Stuckle on 12/08/06 11:53

Csaba Gabor wrote:
> Jerry Stuckle wrote:
>
>>rasiel@dirtyoldbooks.com wrote:
>>
>>>I'm hoping someone can help me out. I'm a researcher in need of
>>>developing an automated database and would like to see if someone here
>>>is willing to consider putting together for me a simple website. I'm
>>>not expecting a freebie of course, I'll pay if you're interested.
>>>
>>>This is the outline of the project:
>>>
>>>This would be a website that pulls records from closed eBay auctions
>>>and stores them in predefined categories. The data would be formatted
>>>by keyword. For example, if we were to pull all auctions over the
>>>course of a year in ebay's categories for shoes I could ask that the
>>>programming place them based on shoe colors black, blue and brown and
>>>ignore all other auctions that do not have those keywords in the
>>>auction title. I would then have on my site a database of shoe auctions
>>>that grows each day and a link for each of the three colors of shoes.
>>>
>>>I can be reached at rasiel at dirty old books dot com but I'll follow
>>>the thread in case I'm waaaay out of line asking for this sort of thing
>>>on this NG.
>
>
>>No, I don't think you're way out of line asking here in the newsgroup.
>>But I think what you're asking is a lot more than a "simple website".
>
>
> ...
>
>
>>Additionally, do you have permission from EBay to use their information
>>in this way? All of it is copyrighted, and using it without their
>>permission can get you and the developer in a lot of trouble.
>
>
> I'm no lawyer, but...
> Don't you mean ->distributing<- it without their permission. To make a
> copy isn't illegal, as far as I know. Anyone can save a web page
> without fear of retribution as far as I'm aware, unless the material
> itself is illegal.
>
> Now a more substantial issue (on the assumption that copyright is not a
> substantial issue here) is automated access to ebay's web pages. Of
> course we know that sniping happens all the time whether ebay likes it
> or not, but that doesn't remove any responsibility from the would be
> researcher.
>
> So the question is, may the researcher, without any agreement, access
> ebay's pages each day on an automated basis. My sentiment is (without
> regard to actual fact) that if the person on the other side cannot tell
> the difference, then what difference does it make whether it is
> automated or not? Aren't computers all automated to a certain extent?
> And aren't servers the epitome of automation? There's a lot of pot
> calling kettle black here. End of sentiment.
>
> So the question for me boils down to one of: (1) May the researcher
> (with or without agreement) access ebay's pages on a daily basis? (2)
> May the researcher distribute results?
>
> It would be real interesting for me to hear about actual cases. Ummm,
> make that get links to reports of actual cases.
>
>
>>Of course, if this is for valid research, I would think they would be quite
>>willing to grant that permission. And any responsible developer would
>>want to ensure this is in place before starting.
>
>
> The researcher hasn't indicated whether he is researching for his own
> improved buying/selling experience (which I would argue everyone does
> to a certain extent) and seems to me to be within the bounds of ebay's
> agreement, or whether he is engaged in academic or other research.
>
> Csaba Gabor from Vienna
>

Actually, in the U.S., even making a copy is illegal. For instance, it
would be illegal to go to the library photocopy a book (or even a
newspaper or magazine article), even if it is for your own personal use.

--
==================
Remove the "x" from my email address
Jerry Stuckle
JDS Computer Training Corp.
jstucklex@attglobal.net
==================

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