Policy overview
With limited exceptions (partially listed below), eBay does not permit the listing of law enforcement badges or official law enforcement equipment from any public entity, including badges issued by the government of any country.
Under Philippine law, it is an offense for any person to publicly and improperly make use of insignia, uniforms or dress pertaining to an office not held by such person or to a class of persons of which he is not a member. The unauthorised manufacture, sale, distribution and use of uniforms, insignias, and other accoutrements of the Philippine National Police is also prohibited.
For more information, please see Additional Information below.
Activity on eBay is required to follow this policy, the eBay User Agreement and all applicable laws, as well as respect the rights of third parties. If it doesn’t, eBay may take action consistent with applicable laws and the eBay User Agreement, and may even be legally required to do so. Such actions may include, as an example only: Removing the listing or other content, issuing a warning, restricting activity or account suspension.
Some examples
The following contains a partial list of police-related items that may not be listed on eBay:
- Official current or recent-issue police uniforms
- Badges from law enforcement agencies
- Military police badges
- Quasi-law enforcement badges (eg: fire department badges)
- Identification cards
- Credential cases
- Emergency vehicle lighting and sirens
- Badges issued by private security companies
- Traffic light control devices
- Copies or reproductions of police badges. Such badges infringe upon the copyright and trademark rights of the agency that issued the badges.
Additional information
- In the Philippines, only those establishments which are accredited by the Philippine National Police and the National Historical Institute are authorised to manufacture, sell or distribute police uniforms and insignias.
Why does eBay have this policy?
eBay has put in place such a policy to cooperate with the government in preventing any unauthorised use of police-related items for any illegal activities or to the detriment of public interest. eBay urges its sellers and buyers to comply with all governmental laws and regulations. Since the sale of certain police-related items are prohibited by law, regulated, or may cause harm to eBay or its members, sellers may not list them on eBay.