We consider digitally delivered goods to be information or content that you can download from a website or receive by email.
You can list digitally delivered goods on eBay as long as you follow these guidelines:
You can only sell items that you're authorised to sell by the law.
Your listing clearly states that you legally own the content (sometimes called intellectual property) or are authorised to sell it by the owner, the owner's agent or the law.
You're responsible for complying with the contractual agreements you may have entered into with licensors. If you're reselling a digitally delivered good, you must state in your listing that you're selling a legally purchased item and that you've removed all copies from your devices and the cloud, or have otherwise disabled your own use of the good. You must act in accordance with that statement.
Adhere to the delivery method requirements as outlined in the What are the guidelines? section below.
Clearly inform the buyer about how the item will be delivered.
Your item must be listed in the relevant category.
Your items can't have any sexually-oriented adult (pornographic) content. For more details, see our Adult Only category policy.
Your item can't include software that would damage anyone's computer, could be used for malicious purposes like sending spam emails or sending a computer virus, or would violate anyone's privacy, such as spyware or cookies. For more details, see our HTML and JavaScript policy.
Ensure that you only sell items for which you can guarantee proper delivery. You remain responsible for ensuring a positive buyer experience.
Make sure that your item doesn't manipulate the eBay Feedback system. For more details, see our Feedback manipulation policy.
Local pickup is not allowed for digital items.
In addition to meeting the guidelines of this policy, listings for all informational products also need to meet the requirements of our compilation and informational items policy.
We may approve certain first party providers to list digitally delivered goods for sale outside of these guidelines.
Make sure you follow these guidelines. If you don't, you may be subject to a range of actions. We may limit, restrict, or suspend you from buying, selling, or using site features. All of your listings may be removed, displayed lower or not shown in search results, without refunding any or all applicable fees. You may also forfeit special account status and any discounts.
What are the guidelines?
Restricted
Only physical delivery permitted:
The item must be provided to the buyer in a physical format, such as a CD or hardcopy. Your listing must clearly indicate that you will send the item by postal mail. The option of delivering the item by email or digitally must never be included.
You must list your item only in the Everything Else > Information Products category.
MP3 music you wrote, recorded, and own all the rights to
Homemade movies you created and own the rights to
Computer software you created and own the rights to
Photos you captured yourself and own the rights to
Digital art you created and own the rights to, or that you're authorised to sell online by the owner, the owner's authorised agent, or the law
An eBook, such as a compilation of recipes, that you created and own the rights to sell
Digital and physical delivery permitted:
You can list software on eBay if it's software that you're authorised to sell online by the owner, the owner's authorised agent, or the law (for example, second-hand software).
When you sell second-hand software, including a key or other device to use the software, make sure that you follow these requirements:
Remove all copies of the particular software application you are selling from your devices and the cloud.
If you purchased a bundle of licenses, you may not split the bundle and sell the licenses separately.
You aren't permitted to sell any software that was provided to you as part of a service (e.g. maintenance agreements).
You must clearly inform the buyer about how the item will be delivered. If the item will be digitally delivered, you need to clearly state this in the listing.
Not allowed
Examples of digitally delivered goods that can't be advertised on eBay:
MP3 music copied from a CD you own or recorded at a concert
eBooks or audio books that you don't own the copyright to and aren't authorised to resell by the owner, the owner’s authorised agent, or the law
Songs you bought from iTunes
Movies you copied from DVDs you own
Video games you copied from the original CDs
PDF files of product manuals or user guides that you don't own the copyright of or you aren't authorised to resell by the owner, the owner's authorised agent, or the law.
Note: We allow PayPal to sell third party retailers' electronically delivered gift cards on eBay. Because we believe that Paypal's digital platform allows buyers to purchase these items on eBay in the most risk-free way, PayPal is currently the only entity allowed to sell electronically-delivered gift cards on eBay.
The guidelines on digitally delivered goods help create a safer place to buy and sell by prohibiting sellers from using eBay in a way that might infringe on the intellectual property rights of others or violate the law. They also help protect buyers from purchasing unauthorised or pirated items.
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