eBay is clamping down on the sale/auction of items, cash, characters and accounts from virtual gaming worlds.
According to a report on Slashdot.org, the action has been taken due to the legal complexities - i.e. property rights issues - that surround such items. Speaking to the website, eBay spokesperson Hani Durzy estimated the company has been removing offending auctions for just over a month. The move is actually a reinforcement of existing eBay policy rather than a new operation.
eBay is giving auctioneers the benefit of the doubt with initial auctions and will simply de-list items and apparently try to educate sellers on the company's policy in regard to the auction of virtual world property. Persistent offenders however will find their eBay accounts removed.