eBay 'not guilty' as GOC drops prosecution

Posted 10.53am, March 6

eBay has been found ‘not guilty’ of aiding and abetting the unlawful sale of contact lenses on its web site this morning, after the General Optical Council offered no evidence this morning at the opening of its prosecution of the internet company.

The GOC said its failed prosecution highlighted a 'problem' with laws on auction web sites. It said it brought the prosecution in the belief that eBay should actively monitor its website and de-list contact lenses that were being offered for sale unlawfully.

The case reinforces eBay’s position as an ‘information society service provider’ that hosts third-party content and does not have any obligation to monitor its site for illegal content.