eBay Main Street

eBay Inc. applauds the most recent cosponsor of H.Res. 95, supporting the "Preservation of Internet Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses." Congressman Bill Owens (NY-23) has joined the bipartisan effort to oppose new tax requirements on small e-tailers. eBay commends Owens’ leadership and dedication to protecting small online businesses in this economic environment. Read eBay Inc.’s position on the Internet sales tax issue here or read H.Res 95 in its entirety.

Dusty Brighton, Director of Government Relations for [eBay-owned] StubHub, was interviewed last week by the Jeff Katz Show-WXKS AM in Boston, MA. The conversation focused on Massachusetts House Bill 1893, legislation that would preserve the secondary tickets market by prohibiting the use of technology for the sole purpose of blocking the resale of a ticket (i.e. restricted paperless ticketing).

In a story published by the Washington Internet Daily, author Kamala Lan takes a look at both sides of the ongoing debate over the Internet sales tax issue. He notes that many of the issue’s strongest opponents believe that it’s unlikely the bills will pass in a weak economic environment where the bill would likely dissuade small business owners from conducting their business online. Other Internet sales tax opponents cited the lack of bipartisanship in the current Congress as a barrier to the bill’s passage. U.S. Congressman Dan Lungren is one of the champions for the small Internet-enabled businesses who would be hurt by new sales taxes. “We ought not to have a tax on the use of the Internet and we ought not to forget the plight of small businesses considering the economy and the state it’s in,” Lungren said.

While Google is receiving a great deal of publicity with its recently-launched Google Wallet, it’s not the only company planning to impact the world with its mobile payment technology. Earlier this month, PayPal also announced its plan for the mobile payment space at an event in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. In an interview published in the “All Things D” section of the Wall Street Journal, PayPal President Scott Thompson explains why he believes that his company, the current leader in online payments, will not only succeed in the hot-topic field of mobile payments, but will embrace the competition and “play better the more sophisticated the competitor is.” Take a look at the next big phenomenon in the mobile world by reading the entire interview at “All Things D.”

Proving that retailing and recycling can go hand-in-hand, Patagonia and eBay have launched the Patagonia Common Threads Initiative + eBay store. It\'s the first time eBay and a retail clothing brand have partnered to encourage the buying and selling of pre-owned branded clothes and gear. Read more in this Wall Street Journal blog post.

Many lawmakers are using the budget deficits felt by numerous states as a rallying point for levying an Internet sales tax on businesses selling goods online. But one state is standing up and saying \'no.\' West Virginia, which recently reported a $320 million budget surplus, expects that their revenue from sales tax will grow in 2012 without an Internet sales tax. In an editorial piece, the West Virginia Gazette suggests the state walk away from harming small businesses and consumers. Visit the West Virginia Gazette website to read the full op-ed piece.

Choi Si-jung, chairman of the Korea Communications Commission,made a trip to Silicon Valley earlier this month to visit eBay Inc. global headquarters. Choi met with eBay vice president Tod Cohen to discuss recent trends in e-commerce and Internet privacy. Cohen said, “eBay is reinforcing its mobile commerce business based on the prediction that consumer trends of the future will be dependent upon four mega factors: mobile, social, local and digital.” He also stressed, “With world’s best network infrastructure and openness, Korea is integral in eBay’s global strategies.” Read more about the visit here (translator download required).

eBay recently served as a sponsor of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Women and the Economy Summit. Michelle Peacock, Head of PayPal Government Relations, represented the company at this incredible gathering of thought leaders. California elected officials, Members of Congress and other eBay Inc. representatives were witness to the adoption of a declaration — for the first time in APEC’s history — affirming the organization’s and each member economy’s “commitment to improving women’s access to capital and markets, to building women’s capacities and skills, and to supporting the rise of women leaders in both the public and private sectors.” Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton delivered the keynote speech, which can be read in its entirety here.

Griff Griffith, known as a celebrity among the eBay community, sat down this week to interview Tod Cohen, the company’s Deputy General Counsel and VP of Government Relations. Griff and Tod covered topics ranging from the recent California Internet Sales Tax victory and how it protects sellers from having to collect out-of-state taxes, to the status of the federal streamlined sales tax battle and how we continue to work with sellers to make sure their voices are heard. Additionally, Griff inquired about the explosive growth of PayPal Mobile and how it could impact public policy. Tod emphasized the importance of having all platforms available to sellers to protect them from being forced into a business model not of their own choosing. Read more.

NetChoice, a coalition of trade associates, e-commerce businesses and online consumers working to increase online convenience and commerce, has posted their September 2011 list of worst Internet laws. Better known by the acronym iAWFUL, the Internet Advocates’ Watchlist For Ugly Laws draws attention to ten items in state or federal legislation that, if passed, can threaten or hurt e-commerce and the Internet. The number one iAWFUL offender on this month’s list is Senators Durbin and Conyers Main Street Fairness Act, which would hurt small businesses that earn money through e-commerce. To read more and see the rest of the list, visit the NetChoice blog.