There are many wonderful templates available on ebay to help you enhance your auctions and make that sale! However, no matter how pretty the template is, you always need to make sure that the graphics being used are not infringing on anyone's copyright. This is important not only to make ebay a safer market place, but also to ensure that your auctions never get pulled for copyright infringement! We should note that a lot of work goes into graphic design and for most graphic artists, like me, it is their main source of income.

 Although there are many graphics available on the internet, not all of them are public domain, and in many cases, even purchased clipart can have restrictions. In most cases, the author or company providing the clipart allows you to use them for personal use only and not to create items for resale. Generally, you can purchase the rights to use graphics commercially, but the costs can be exorbitant for most free-lance designers.

Here's a checklist of things to consider when making your purchase:

• Stay away from templates that offer Disney or other famous cartoon character graphics because Disney does not give resale rights. Most of the rights owners to these graphics are VERO members so you could get your auctions pulled by them!
• Do not purchase templates that use graphics taken from brand names such as "LV", "Chanel", etc... as most all famous fashion houses do not permit the use of their emblems, logos and designs under any circumstances.
• Most clipart can be used if a link or a credit to the original author is provided at the bottom of the template. If you don't see any credits and the designer does not claim that the graphics are original (created by them), contact the designer and ask where they got their graphics from, and if they have resale rights to them.
• It is always safer to go with a designer who, like myself, creates their own graphics. This way you can feel assured that your auctions won't be pulled. How can you tell? It will be clearly stated within the description that the graphics are original and created by the designer and the credit will specify "Graphics & Design by..." instead of just "Template Design by so and so..."

Last but not least, if you see anyone using graphics that you know they do not have resale rights to please let the original author know about it. The only way designers can protect their rights is if everyone pitches in to help!

I hope you have found this Guide useful! Come on, lets make ebay safe for all!