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eBay vs. Craigslist Courtroom Fisticuffs Start Today

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the grab-the-popcorn dept.

davekleiman writes with news that former eBay chief exec Meg Whitman took the stand today to kick off the battle that has been brewing between Craigslist and eBay. The waters are further clouded by Whitman's upcoming bid for governor of California. "eBay wants to shed light on the 'coercive plan' that it has said Newmark hatched with Craigslist Chief Executive Jim Buckmaster to dilute eBay's ownership stake, ultimately stripping eBay of its seat on the Craigslist board. Craigslist has hit back that eBay used its board seat to glean information to launch its own classified site, Kijiji. Craigslist also claims that eBay used deceptive tactics to direct traffic away from its site."

4 of 129 comments (clear)

  1. Cross Ownership by Akido37 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    It always struck me as a little weird that major competitors should have a seat on the board.

    It would be like Microsoft having a board seat at Apple. Or Google at Microsoft. It just doesn't happen.

    What made eBay and Craigslist different? Or think they were different?

    1. Re:Cross Ownership by bberens · · Score: 4, Interesting

      They have a competitor on the board since the competitor elected itself to the board with all the shares which they bought. No one but this competitor is happy with this setup.

      Clarification... No one but a significant owner (who just happens to be a competitor) is happy with this setup. It sounds like a diet form of hostile takeover.

      --
      Check out my lame java blog at www.javachopshop.com
  2. Re:In Smaller Markets, Kijiji Dominates by Wyatt+Earp · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Here in Anchorage Alaska there is nothing up on Kijiji (14 sales). Same went for where I used to live, a small market (Skagit county Washington).

    For all of South Dakota there are 29 things for sale on Kijiji and hundreds of sales on Craigslist for today alone.

    So I'm not sold on Kijiji "ruling the roost" in small markets.

  3. Re:In Smaller Markets, Kijiji Dominates by KraftDinner · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I think Kijiji is bigger in Canada, but I have no stats to back up my claim. Just speaking with friends and family. Even my non-technical family have heard of Kijiji and not Craigslist.