A French court hit an eBay auctioneer with thousands of euros in fines, highlighting legal uncertainties for millions of online vendors across the country.

Authorities say the defendant, who was charged and convicted this week of operating a business without a license, was a professional art dealer who failed to register as a commercial vendor, thus dodging numerous regulations and taxes. The defendant, through his lawyer, insists on his innocence, arguing that his sale of some 470 art objects through eBay did not trigger the registration requirement.

An eBay spokeswoman in France would not comment on the court case, but said concerned eBay users should consult with French fiscal authorities if they had questions.

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Posted: 01|20|06 at 9:27 am. Filed under: Auction News.