A few weeks ago we told you about a grassroots public interest coalition – Citizens for Ownership Rights – that came together around the idea of protecting ownership rights, the ability to buy, sell, or use goods as the owner sees fit.  This issue should ring close to eBay buyers and sellers’ hearts as we all benefit from the right to be able to buy and sell goods on the open market.

This morning, the House Judiciary Committee convened a hearing to discuss whether states have the authority to impose new sales tax collection burdens on Internet-enabled retailers.  The Committee is considering a bill, H.R. 3179, which would require online retailers to collect and remit sales taxes in up to 9600 taxing jurisdictions nationwide.  While the bill contains a “small seller exception”, the exception is extremely inadequate and would capture numerous small businesses that are struggling to remain competitive in today’s retail environment.

Members of the Information Technology Industry Council; the Brazil Ministry of Communications; the Brazil Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation; and the Brazil Ministry of Development, Industry & Foreign Trade gather outside eBay Inc.