Hi all - Ebay is very clear in its discussion of this topic as it relates to the online auction/listing process. The taking of YOUR OWN photos is SPECIFICALLY allowed. To state that it is illegal flies in the face of common sense. Are sellers supposed to only have written descriptions without ANY pictures? Then every seller in every online marketplace must be breaking the law if they show a picture of what they're selling!
Let's get real here, someone on this thread needs to take a breath and actually read what the other posters are saying, do some better research, and stop putting out this really bad info.
exerpts from eBay:
Guidelines for Creating Legally Compliant Listings
Create your own listing content:
You should avoid "borrowing" text or images (including photos) from other listings on eBay, a manufacturer's web site, product catalogs, or other sources without specific permission from the owner. Contrary to popular belief, simply because images and text may be found somewhere on the Internet does not necessarily mean that they are not protected by copyright laws. Copyright laws apply to the Internet, and manufacturers or other copyright owners may object to the use of text or images that they own or have created.
You should write your own descriptive text for your listing, and take your own photos.
If you are selling a brand name product, you can mention the brand name in your listing and include an image that depicts the product you are selling.
A more respectful tone with a little less arrogance might be in order here as well. We are not idiots because we happen to disagree, just as NO ONE in this discussion is an expert.