. It argued that its roll is as the provider of the platform on which the auctions are held. It contends it would be impractical for it to monitor all the individual auctions that are posted on its sites around the world.

However, a court in India has taken a different view after Harry Potter author J K Rowling sued the online auction house and sought an injunction to prevent them selling unauthorised versions of her best selling books.

The ruling made by The High Court in Delhi relates to a period in 2004 when digitally downloadable copies of the Harry Potter stories were being offered on Baaze.com which is the name under which eBay’s Indian operation used to be known as.

Rowlings is not the only one currently taking legal action against eBay over the sale of counterfeit items. In September, Christian Dior and Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy
Filed claims in a Paris court for £25 million against eBay.