eBay blocks AuctionWatch searches

eBay Inc. (Nasdaq: EBAY) has begun blocking AuctionWatch.com from searching its auction lists, AuctionWatch said Thursday. A squabble had recently broken out between the online auctioneer and several of the "auction portal" sites over the searches, which let consumers look for items for sale on multiple sites. eBay contends that the listings are its intellectual property. AuctionWatch said eBay began blocking its servers Wednesday night after negotiations between the two companies broke down.

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