Re:Umm.. it's not a freaking charity people ... (Score 1)

eBay is not the seller of the product nor involved in the sale(2), nor an auction service(1), and therefore have no right to demand that businesses accept payment in chickens or paypal.

eBay could not overtly attempt the Australian "project" in the USA due to federal antitrust laws (the so-called "market conditions" referred to in eBay press statements). However, they are getting there through the back door by banning the viable competitors, banning direct communications between parties to the transaction, intercepting communications which include links to alternate pay sites, including "paypal is prefered" in the sellers' ads, banning other checkout systems, and other incremental measures.

(1)"You acknowledge that we are not a traditional auctioneer."

(2)"No agency, partnership, joint venture, employee-employer or franchiser-franchisee relationship is intended or created by this Agreement."

both from the User Agreement http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/user-agreement.html?_trksid=m40