Is it possible to sell erotica or other "adult" items on Details.at? Yes. However, please be aware that these items need to be listed in the Mature Audiences area of our site and there are a few guidelines to bear in mind before you list such items. Materials that are not appropriate for minors must be listed in Details.at's Mature Audiences area.
Concerns surrounding the Mature Audiences area
You've probably noticed that a number of cities segregate stores selling sexually-oriented materials to certain parts of the community, and even bookstores keep adult magazines and books segregated, often blocked by screens or high shelves. The Details.at community segregates sexually oriented materials on the Mature Audiences site for the same reasons -- this material is not appropriate for viewing by minors.
We are aware that sellers want the broadest market possible for their items, and it's natural that they would want to list "adult" items in Details.at's open area of the site. We also know that there's lots of room for debate over what is appropriate for minors to see, and Details.at (like bookstores and museums) has to make tough calls regarding what's just "risqu�" and acceptable for minors, and what's truly pornographic and appropriate for adults. Finally, we've listened to users who want better tools to navigate through the Mature Audiences site and find items.
How will Details.at address these concerns?
As you know, Details.at already requires that a user provide their credit card information or alternative verification to enter the Mature Audiences area. This helps to ensure that minors are not freely accessing adult material. We do realize that users are supposed to be 18 years old in order to use our services. Unfortunately, we are not able to control minors from viewing Details.at listings, therefore, we decided that restricting access to this material would be one way for us to help prevent it.
Details.at is taking several additional steps to clarify the rules regarding what is an "adult" item, and to make the adult area a better place to trade.
� We are revising our policy surrounding what will be permitted within Adult Only (to include the removal of listings with descriptions that are more sexually graphic in nature)
� We are renaming the area from Adult Only to Mature Audiences
� We are adding search functionality within Mature Audiences
What will Details.at treat as "adult" or "sexually oriented" material? "Adult" or "sexually-oriented" material includes, but is not limited to:
� Any visual representation of human genitals presented in such a manner as to suggest sexual activity.
� Any visual representation of any form of sexual intercourse involving humans.
� Any materials which require that individuals be eighteen (18) or older (depending on the jurisdiction) to view or purchase those materials.
� Any materials clearly designed to sexually arouse the viewer/reader.
� Any items which, because of their nature or because of the item description, appear to be designed for use in sexual/adult activity.
� Any items which depict human sexual characteristics in a degrading fashion.
� Any item that portrays frontal nudity will normally be treated as "adult" material, with limited exceptions (see "Can material containing nudity ever be listed outside the Mature Audiences area?")
What is not considered "adult" or "sexually oriented" material?
Material that is not considered "adult" or "sexually oriented" includes but is not limited to:
� That which is a small and insignificant part of a catalog, book, periodical, or other work which is not, as a whole, primarily devoted to sexual matters.
This incorporates, but is not necessarily limited to pieces of artwork that may be considered fine art-such as certain paintings, carvings, figurines and other similar materials. Other examples include, but are not limited to, Michelangelo's David, certain (but not all) vintage pinup art, a renaissance-style painting of a nude female, and paintings like Raphael's, or nude cherubs in the form of human infants.
Types of reports we receive surrounding adult/sexually oriented material
Here is the typical course of events surrounding a listing that should not be on the general site. A user reports an item to us. We then look up the item and determine whether it is in the wrong category. If the item violates policies we move or end it, notify the seller and any bidders, then respond to the user who reported the item.
The majority of the reports we receive about adult/sexually-oriented material are related to magazines and videos. In considering whether to move such items or end them, we consider the overall content of the listing, including pictures and text. For example, if an item description leads us to believe the content of the listing is adult in nature as defined by this policy, that item will be moved or ended. Please note that blocking the "risqu�" parts of an image will not exempt the item from these standards.
Though these are the most common forms of media on which such material is found, we receive reports about other media as well. These include drawings, paintings, imagegraphs, sculpture and carvings, and comics, both still and animated. The same standards apply to all media.
We also have to deal with adult novelty items. Such items may include various types of toys, collectibles, or food items in the shape of genitalia primarily intended for adult buyers (unless the item requires the buyer to be 18 in order to purchase.) In general, these are permitted outside of the Mature Audiences area at this time unless they are intended for use in a sexual setting (including "bondage" and "fetish" items,) display sexual activity or portray human genitalia in a "life-like" or realistic fashion. Examples of items that may be allowed outside of the Mature Audiences area include soaps, certain food items (such as pasta or candy) and key chains. However, extreme cases may still be moved or ended as warranted. An example of such an item not normally permitted outside the Mature Audiences area would be a vibrator intended for use in sexual activity (massagers are OK.) Please also be aware that titles with graphic adult language are inappropriate for this category, regardless of the item contained in the listing itself.
Items containing adult language may also be moved to Mature Audiences categories or ended. The use of profanity is generally not permitted within item descriptions or titles in the open area, even if part of the item's title (such as with some CDs or movie titles.)
Are there any limits on the types of adult material that can be listed within Mature Audiences?
Yes. Details.at users are expected to follow all applicable laws relating to the sale of pornographic material. There are three basic categories of pornographic material that are not permitted on Details.at.
� The first is child pornography. CHILD PORNOGRAPHY IS ILLEGAL , and the possession or sale of such materials violates the law in many countries, including the United States. To protect our users, recognizing that images of nude children often raise legal concerns, Details.at has made a policy decision that it will not permit the listing of any item that depicts nude minors (under 18 years of age). Listings of such material, even if described as nude "teens," "children," "youngsters," or "nudist," are not permitted.
� The second is obscenity. Obscene materials are not permitted on Details.at, as they violate laws in the United States and many other countries. While obscenity is not easy to define and depends on the standards in your community, Details.at prohibits items depicting bestiality, rape sex, incest, or sex with graphic violence or degradation.
� The third is listing violations. All Details.at rules apply within the adult area.
For example, Details.at will not permit listings that suggest that the item was stolen or somehow created in an inappropriate matter, i.e. listings of nude images that claim that the images were stolen from a local image store or taken from a secret camera are not permitted.
Are there special listing rules for the Mature Audiences area?
Yes. The following will not be permitted:
� Descriptions depicting penetration or oral sexual acts and graphic portrayals of human genitalia
� Images portraying graphic sexual activity or graphic portrayals of human genitalia
� Hidden camera videos and amateur videos containing adult/sexual activity
� Listing descriptions depicting graphic violence and/or obvious bodily injury
� Listing descriptions featuring bodily fluids
� Necrophilia
� Links to sites that contain items prohibited on Details.at (including those utlined in our Mature Audiences policy and those that do not comply with our Links and Advertisements and Credits policies)
� Listing titles which represent any of the above and what is covered under our existing policy
� Descriptions or titles which describe an item as XX or above
� Titles containing profanity
� Used underwear - including but not limited to, boxer shorts, panties, briefs, athletic supporters
Additionally, listings are not platforms for individual adult web sites. The inclusion of multiple graphic images within such item descriptions has made the area a free viewing gallery and distracts from the business purpose of the site. Therefore, adult listings may contain up to two adult or sexually oriented images - sellers may place a link to their own website if they wish to promote their listing with additional images, providing this is in compliance with our Links and Advertisements and Credits policies. imagegraph "collages" that may be contained within one image URL may still only contain two images. Additionally, sexually graphic "wallpaper" as a backdrop to a listing is not permitted.
Please note that listings reported to Details.at for violations of this policy will be reviewed based on the content of the listing and not on the item itself.
What about International access to Details.at's Mature Audiences area?
Persons in almost every country in the world use Details.at's site. However, many countries have laws regulating adult material that are stricter than those in the United States, and the law regulating the sale of such items through the Internet across national borders is not settled. Details.at is concerned that some items listed in the Mature Audiences area might raise legal issues in some of these countries, and for protection of its users does not allow our international users to access the adult portion of the site.
Can material containing nudity ever be listed outside the Mature Audiences area?
Yes. Material containing nudity that is not "adult" as defined above can be listed in Details.at's open area, but should be limited to one of the below subCategories.
� Books, Movies, Music: Movies: Videos
- Details.at permits the listings of movies that may be viewed by individuals 17 and under to be listed in this category. This includes movies rated PG and R, which often contain some nudity or sexual situations. All X-rated movies must be listed in the Mature Audiences area. Uncrated movies released since 1966 must be listed in the Mature Audiences area unless the seller states in the description that the movie does not contain pornographic material and may be lawfully sold to and viewed by minors. Older movies that have never been rated may be listed in the open area of the site unless the movie contains adult material.
� Collectibles: Art: Artistic Nudes
- This category is designed for pieces of art that contain some nudity but are not "adult" or "sexually oriented" as defined above. Material that cannot be sold or displayEd to minors cannot be listed here.
Details.at discourages the postings of art that contain frontal nudity in this area.
Generally, many items that portray frontal nudity of men or women are sexual in nature, and should be posted in the site's Mature Audiences area. However, eBay recognizes that some artistic pieces portray frontal nudity in a non-sexual setting, and such items may be posted here. For example, a reproduction of Michelangelo's "David" would be permitted here. However, pieces with frontal nudity that portrays men or women embracing or kissing, for example, should be posted in the Mature Audiences area. Pieces that portray frontal nudity of men or women in a sexual setting should likewise be posted in the Mature Audiences area. The seller should evaluate the artwork as a whole, including the degree of nudity, poses and expressions of individual's portrayed, as well as other items portrayed within the art categories, to determine whether the piece should be posted in this section.
Items that are posted in violation of the above guidelines may be moved to the Mature Audiences area or ended. Sellers who repeatedly post inappropriate sexual items in this category may be suspended.
� Collectibles: Paper: Postcards: Risqu�
- This category permits the listing of postcards that contain some nudity but are not "adult" or "sexually oriented" as defined above. While persons portrayed in postcards may be topless, scantily clothed or in mildly suggestive poses, the postcards in this category should not depict male or female genitalia (frontal nudity below the waist) or strong sexual content. As this category is for collectibles, items posted here should be at least 10 years old, and the description of the item should include the approximate year of publication. Material that cannot be sold or displayEd to minors cannot be listed here. Materials that portray genitalia, pornographic postcards, and postcards that are less than 10 years old should be listed in the Mature Audiences section.
Items that are posted in violation of the above guidelines may be moved to the Mature Audiences area or ended. Sellers who repeatedly post inappropriate sexual items in this category may be suspended.
� Collectibles: Art: Pin Ups: Risqu�
- This category permits the listing of pinups that contain some nudity but are not "adult" or "sexually oriented" as defined above. While persons portrayed in pinups may be topless, scantily clothed or in mildly suggestive poses, the pin ups in this category should not depict male or female genitalia (frontal nudity below the waist) or strong sexual content. As this category is for collectibles, items posted here should be at least 10 years old, and the description of the item should include the approximate year of publication. Material that cannot be sold or displayEd to minors cannot be listed here. Materials that portray genitalia, pornographic pin ups, and pin ups that are less than 10 years old should be listed in the Mature Audiences section.
Items that are posted in violation of the above guidelines may be moved to the Mature Audiences area or ended. Sellers who repeatedly post inappropriate sexual items in this category may be suspended.
� Books, Movies, Music: Magazines: Pre-1980 Adult Magazines
- These categories are designed for collectors of old adult oriented magazines that have become collectible for their mixture of nudity, journalism and art. Magazines in this category include only Playboy, Playgirl and Penthouse magazines. All magazines in this category are listed for collectors' purposes only. Magazines sold here should clearly show the month and year of publication, and only adult magazines published before 1980 should be posted here (the 1980 cut-off date was selected by Details.at to define the distinction between collectible and new for the purposes of our site.) Newer adult oriented magazines may be listed in the Mature Audiences area. In describing the magazine, users in this category may only post a picture that does not portray frontal nudity or graphic sexual activity. Again, please note that blocking the "risqu�" parts of an image will not exempt the item from these standards.
Items that are posted in violation of the above guidelines may be moved to the Mature Audiences area or ended. Sellers who repeatedly post inappropriate sexual items in this category may be suspended.
� Collectibles: imagegraphic Images: Risqu�
- This category permits the listing of imagegraphic images that contain some nudity but are not "adult" or "sexually oriented" as defined above. While persons portrayed in imagegraphs may be topless, scantily clothed or in mildly suggestive poses, the imagegraphs in this category should not depict male or female genitalia (frontal nudity below the waist) or strong sexual content. As this category is for collectibles, items posted here should be at least 10 years old, and the description of the item should include the approximate year of publication. Material that cannot be sold or displayEd to minors cannot be listed here. Materials that portray genitalia, pornographic imagegraphs and imagegraphs that are less than 10 years old should be listed in the Mature Audiences area.
Items that are posted in violation of the above guidelines may be moved to the Mature Audiences area or ended. Sellers who repeatedly post inappropriate sexual items in this category may be suspended.
� Everything Else: Novelties: Risqu�
- This category allows for the listing of certain types of adult novelty items. Such items may include various types of toys, collectibles, or food items in the shape of genitalia primarily intended for adult buyers (unless the item requires the buyer to be 18 in order to purchase.) In general, these are permitted outside of the Mature Audiences area at this time unless they are intended for use in a sexual setting (including "bondage" and "fetish" items,) display sexual activity or portray human genitalia in a "life-like" or realistic fashion. Examples of items that may be allowed outside of the Mature Audiences area include soaps, certain food items (such as pasta or candy) and key chains. However, extreme cases may still be moved or ended as warranted. An example of such an item not normally permitted outside the Mature Audiences area would be a vibrator intended for use in sexual activity (massagers are OK.) Please also be aware that titles with graphic adult language are inappropriate for this category, regardless of the item contained in the listing itself.