Virginia Small Business Owner Speaks Out Against Senate Passed Marketplace Fairness Act

Last week, Virginia small business owner, Jonathan Gonzales, wrote a letter to the editor of the Roanoke Times expressing his concern and frustration with the Senate passed Marketplace Fairness Act. If enacted into law, the Marketplace Fairness Act would require hundreds of thousands of small tech-enabled businesses, like Gonzales’, to collect and remit sales taxes for taxing jurisdictions across the country. It would also allow states to impose rules and regulations on businesses not located in their state.
Representative Farenthold Introduces Legislation to Protect First Sale Doctrine

Last week, Congressman Blake Farenthold (R-TX) introduced legislation that would protect the first sale doctrine for electronic devices and the software on those devices. The legislation, titled You Own Devices Act (YODA), simply states that if you want to sell, lease, or give away your device, the software that enables it to work is transferred along with it, and that any right you have to security and bug fixing of that software is transferred as well.
PayPal Submits Letter to CFPB on Mobile Banking

In June 2014, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a Request for Information related to mobile banking and financial management services. The CFPB was established by Congress to protect consumers by carrying out federal consumer financial laws. PayPal works closely with the CFPB on issues related to digital payments and mobile banking and responded to the CFPB’s Request for Information with a letter.
eBay and PayPal inspire at the Future of Online Retail forum

Speakers from eBay and PayPal were invited by Mal Brough MP, Federal Member for Fisher (located in Queensland) to keynote at the Future of Online Retail forum on the Sunshine Coast last week.
The National Conference of State Legislatures Brings “Jobs” Discussion to eBay Inc.

eBay Inc. Government Relations hosted the National Conference of State Legislatures’ (NCSL) 2014 Jobs Summit this week at the eBay Inc. North Campus in San Jose, CA. Steve Yankovich, VP of Innovation and Commerce at eBay Inc., introduced the new generation of retail, the future of commerce and what that means for local businesses to over 40 state legislators from around the country.
Tod Cohen Discusses Ownership Rights on eBay Radio

In recent years, there have been attempts to restrict the ability of individuals to resell items that they have legitimately purchased. Yesterday, Tod Cohen, Vice President of eBay Inc.’s Global Government Relations team, spoke about the importance of protecting owners’ rights and the Owners’ Rights Initiative on eBay Radio.
eBay Inc. to Testify Before House Energy & Commerce Committee on Cross Border Data Flows

Brian Bieron, eBay Inc.’s Executive Director of Global Public Policy, will testify before the House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing & Trade in a hearing entitled “Cross Border Data Flows: Could Foreign Protectionism Hurt U.S. Jobs?”
eBay Inc. Participates in Tech Event in Brazil

Brian Bieron, eBay Inc.’s Senior Director of Government Relations and Global Politics, recently spoke at tech event hosted by the Chamber of Industry, Commerce and Services (CIC) of Caxias do Sul, Brazil.
Industry Association Submits Additional Comments to FCC on Open Internet Debate

Yesterday, the Internet Association, a trade organization that represents the interests of the leading Internet companies, including eBay Inc., submitted additional comments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding the ongoing Open Internet or network neutrality debate.
Driving Business Online in Frankston

Last week (September 12), eBay and PayPal in partnership with the Minister for Small Business, Bruce Billson, hosted a Driving Business Online seminar in Frankston, located south east of Melbourne city centre.