eBay has launched an online petition to protest against manufacturers, which are trying to block the sale of their branded goods.

eBay has launched a petition campaigning against manufacturers and brand owners, which are threatening to block the sale of their branded goods on its site.

The online trading site has stated that some brand owners and manufacturers have cited the issue of counterfeit selling on the eBay site as their reason for attempting to prevent the sale of their goods. However, eBay statistics show that only 0.15% of listings last year were potentially counterfeit.

eBay is campaigning for the EU competition law to be amended to “stop these unfair trade practices.”

In a statement, eBay said: “Ultimately, what is at stake is the right of sellers to compete fairly in the wider online marketplace, and the right of buyers to be able to access the best possible deals from the widest possible selection of goods.

“The real aim of these brands is to block the sale of all their products on our site – regardless of whether such items are new or second-hand, genuine or fake. It’s not just luxury items that are affected, but also everyday items like children’s toys, electronic equipment, lawnmowers and pushchairs.”

In its online guidelines, eBay clearly states that sellers must not list branded goods that have not been endorsed by that company, and any breach could result in account suspension, a cancelled listing or limits on account privileges.

eBay has emailed its account holders to inform them of its petition campaign. To add your vote to the site’s petition, click here ^[1]to sign in to your eBay account or to create one.