Ebay is a site that is full of links to trademarked names - things for sale like 'Nikes'. It is threatening to sue Google advertisers who use the name Ebay in phrases like 'Ebay power seller'. One advertiser puts it in perspective: "How do you say that you repair Volkswagens without saying Volkswagen?".

Ebay doesn't have an API, is hostile to third party add-on software and has bought third party products like Paypal that encroached on its value-add and commissions. If Ebay, which has a virtual monopoly on classifieds is so hostile to decentralization, perhaps Ebay is vulnerable to the syndication model?

Google ads a threat to eBay trademark? | CNET News.com