Tennessee bill would exempt eBay businesses from auctioneer license requirements

[mandy]

A bill moving through the state Legislature would exempt businesses that assist sellers in placing their items for bid on Internet stores from having to get a state auctioneer’s license.

The legislation, which passed the House Commerce Committee Tuesday, was introduced on behalf of eBay, which contends that online trading assistants, including those who operate drop-off centers, are not auctioneers and thus shouldn’t be regulated.

On the other hand, the Tennessee Auctioneers Association argues that Internet trading assistants act as auctioneers and should be subject to standards that safeguard consumers who place their goods in the hands of auctioneers...

full article: http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/index....ction_id=9&screen=news&news_id=48694

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http://community.tuliptools.com/index.ph...894.0.html

[mandy]

Update: The Tennessee bill exempting eBay Drop-off centres and trading assistants from auctioneering requirements was signed into law.

Some people may refer to eBay as an online “auction,” but under a new state law, such online bidding sites are not considered “auctions” for purposes of regulation.

The controversial legislation, signed by Gov. Phil Bredesen last week, exempts from licensing requirements eBay drop-off centers and other businesses that assist people in placing items for bid on Internet stores...

EBay pushed for the law after a majority of members of the state Auctioneer Commission last year said they leaned toward regulating drop-off centers and online trading assistants.

full article: http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/index....ction_id=9&screen=news&news_id=49417