Posted By:
Mark McClearyApologies if this has been covered before, but I was in the process of selling my first major card on ebay. The ad read "1914 Cracker Jack Ty Cobb GAI Graded 1.5 (not PSA)."
I received an email today telling me that PSA, under penalty of perjury, has alleged that my listing misused their brand name or trademark. And therefore my listing was removed. Moreover, my account may be suspecded if I repeat the offense.
Is this common practice? Does PSA do this trick with SGC as well or only their nemisis? Does it misuse the PSA brand name or trademark my saying that my card was graded by GAI and not PSA?
Here is the response I received from PSA:
"Dear Mr. McCleary,
Your listing has been removed by PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) due to word spamming. This is the improper use of our name and/or likeness, etc. for commercial purposes. You used PSA on your listing for a non-PSA graded item. This is considered word spamming since a search using the keyword PSA will bring up your item though it not PSA graded. We simply ask that items be listed accurately."
What a bunch of heavy-handed jerks.