Classifieds

On Thursday a federal judge rehabilitate eBay Inc’s 28.4 percent stake in Craigslist, but allowed the classifieds site to keep eBay off its board.

It was the case eBay filed in 2008 against the classifieds on allegations a rights plan Craigslist adopted diluted eBay's stake from 28.4 percent to 24.85 percent. The case brought by Craigslist in San Francisco against eBay is still to be litigated. The case alleges that eBay used its board seat at Craigslist to glean confidential information about the classified ad business.

According to the polls conducted by Mashable and Washington Post many users are against censorship introduced by Craigslist on its Adult Section. A survey at Mashable shows 71 percent of the respondents voted no to the question "Should Craigslist's Adult Services be censored?" Meanwhile, the Washington Post asked its readers, "Do you agree with Craigslist's decision?" to block access to its Adult Services section. Fifty-two percent of them said no.

According to the estimates by the analysts from the Advanced Interactive Media Group the revenue of the popular classifieds service Craigslist is expected to increase by 22% this year boosted mainly by the Advanced Interactive Media Group fee-based postings in its adult services section. The report says that nearly 1/3 of the $122 million expected to be earned by Craigslist in 2010 will come from the adult ads, which often promote the services of prostitutes.

 On Monday next week the legal battle between eBay and Craigslist resumes as a Delaware state court is to conduct a trial which will bring to the witness stand two Internet pioneers: former eBay Chief Executive Meg Whitman and Craigslist founder Craig Newmark.

 A lawsuit launched against Craigslist to force the classified ads website to remove the Adult Services section was dismissed by a federal judged. U.S. District Court Judge John Grady ruled that not all ads posted on the Craigslist "Adult Services" section advertised prostitution and that other services could legitimately appear there.

"A woman advertising erotic dancing for male clients is offering an adult service, yet this is not prostitution," he said in a 31-page opinion Tuesday.