Just a word of caution, if you plan on selling anything Microsoft branded on eBay, even if you follow the terms of service for the product, Microsoft is likely to remove it. The latest set of auctions I put up were unbranded OEM cds. I read the terms, and it just had to be issued with the standard piece of non-periphial hardware. Done. Clearly stated in the auction.

From Microsoft’s about me page on eBay:

Some OEM software, called Delivery Service Provider (“DSP”), is licensed for distribution by smaller makers of computer systems, and can be distinguished by the presence of the letter “D” or the phrase “OEM Product” on the Certificate of Authenticity. The distribution of this software is governed by the OEM System Builder Agreement attached to the outside of the multi-unit OEM System Builder Pack in which the software is distributed. DSP/OEM operating systems are licensed for distribution with non-peripheral PC hardware or with fully assembled computer systems; DSP/OEM applications and server software are licensed only for distribution with fully assembled computers. All DSP/OEM software becomes essentially “married” to the computer on which it is first installed, and can be redistributed only with the complete original computer system. Visit Microsoft’s OEM System Builder website for more information.

Two days later I get an automated email from eBay’s Vero program telling me that Microsoft had ordered the auctions down. Lucky for me, they were too late. The auctions had been won within 12-36 hours (I used buy it now) and about a day before they found it and had papers filed.

There is no reasoning with them. They send you a link to contact them, but never results in you winning. This is not the first time I’ve had auctions taken down because of them, and the same goes for a bunch of other people. Normally when it happens, I’ll flip the auction to buy it now and re-list it. This time I had sold the items, gotten paid, shipped them and begun the transfer of funds to my bank account. The only thing I can’t do is give and receive feedback for those three auctions.

It just comes down to another large company abusing the system (yes, much like the RIAA).