Ford Banister LLC

08/24/2026

What Causes an Amazon Related-Account Deactivation?

Can Amazon deactivate a seller based on an account the seller says they do not recognize?

In a May 2026 Seller Forums post, a seller reported that Amazon deactivated the account under Section 3 because of an alleged association with another seller account identified as “TuoyongUS.” The seller stated that the account was unfamiliar and that there was no known ownership or operating relationship.

Related-account cases can be difficult because simply denying the connection may not explain why Amazon’s systems detected one. A suspected link may involve account access, business ownership, addresses, employees, former partners, or third-party service providers.

A seller challenging the connection may need ownership records, contracts, account-transfer documents, employment records, service-provider agreements, and other evidence showing
how the businesses are separate or how a previous relationship ended.

The forum post presents the seller’s account of the dispute and does not establish whether Amazon’s determination was correct. However, it highlights a recurring problem: sellers may be
required to disprove a connection without initially knowing what caused it.

How can a seller respond when Amazon identifies a related account but provides limited information about the alleged connection?


Source:

08/14/2026

eBay and Former Executives Agree to $55.7 Million Harassment Settlement

eBay and three former executives agreed to pay $55.7 million to resolve a lawsuit filed by David and Ina Steiner, publishers of the EcommerceBytes newsletter.

The couple was targeted by former eBay employees through cyberstalking, threats, surveillance, and disturbing deliveries after publishing criticism of the company. eBay had previously paid a $3 million criminal penalty related to the campaign.

The case shows how executive communications, workplace culture, and inadequate oversight can create serious corporate liability. Companies must ensure that internal teams are never used to intimidate journalists, customers, sellers, or other critics.

08/12/2026

Who Owns Jimothy the Raccoon?

A viral Seattle raccoon named Jimothy has raised an unusual trademark question: Can anyone claim exclusive rights after an internet phenomenon becomes widely recognized?

Trademark claims were reportedly filed for Jimothy’s name on stuffed animals and his image on baby products. But trademark law does not simply reward the first person to file. A mark must identify a particular source of goods or services.

Jimothy may have become too popular too quickly to be
controlled by one source. Even the person believed to have recorded the original video could face difficulty proving that consumers associate the raccoon’s name with her.

For businesses and creators, the lesson is clear: viral attention and trademark rights are not the same. Enforceable rights require consistent commercial use, clear source identification, and evidence that consumers connect the mark with a specific business.

When a character becomes an internet sensation before a brand is established, who, if anyone, should own the name?

08/11/2026

Hasbro Wins Copyright Case Over Wolfoo’s Use of Peppa Pig Audio

Hasbro, which owns the rights to Peppa Pig, sued SConnect, the maker of Wolfoo, over videos that used recordings from Peppa Pig. The court found Peppa Pig clips in all 92 English language Wolfoo videos examined and in 75% of the sampled foreign-language videos.

SConnect argued that a third-party contractor had inserted the sounds without its knowledge and that newer videos used original audio. The judge rejected those defenses and ordered all Wolfoo videos removed from online platforms, including YouTube, rather than limiting the order to the sampled videos.

For studios, creators, and brands, the lesson is practical: responsibility for infringing content does not disappear when production is outsourced. Businesses should document the source of each audio asset, require written intellectual property assurances from contractors, and audit content before publication.

When sample evidence suggests copying across a content library, how far should a court go in ordering removal?

Judge orders removal of all Wolfoo videos from online platforms after finding ‘prolific’ copyright infringement

08/10/2026

The Hidden Legal Battle Behind Amazon’s Price Matching

A recent Guardian investigation raises an important e-commerce question: What happens when Amazon’s pricing power influences how products are priced on competing platforms?

The investigation describes allegations that suppliers were pressured to raise prices or remove products from competing retailers.

For sellers and suppliers, this can mean balancing their dependence on Amazon against their relationships with other marketplaces. For consumers, the result can be higher prices, fewer choices, or reduced availability.

From an e-commerce law perspective, the key question is not simply whether prices increased—but what caused the increase, what influence was exercised, and how did it affect competition?
Amazon denies the allegations and maintains that its practices promote competitive pricing.

But when a marketplace has the power to influence prices beyond its own platform, where should the line be drawn between legitimate business practices and undue market influence?

Internal emails revealed in court and interviews with ex-employees describe how Amazon’s practices drove up prices for competitors like Walmart and Target. Amazon denies price-fixing claims and says it works to lower costs for consumers

06/16/2026

Counterfeit goods cost the U.S. economy billions every year—and legitimate businesses pay the price.

If unauthorized sellers are using your brand, don't wait for the damage to grow.

Protect your business. Enforce your rights.

📞 (212) 500-3268
🔗 fordbanister.com

05/19/2026

As consumers, we sometimes think of counterfeits as a “necessary evil”. Just a means for some to keep up with trends and societal pressure. But in this video, you will realize how impactful counterfeiting really is not just to sellers but to us, consumers.

Truly an eye-opening video by Business Insider: https://youtu.be/pBzrd4-qBY0?si=mV1Tel1wsZFgAVGL

13K likes, 1.7K comments. "Inside the Billion-Dollar World of Fake Luxury — From Nikes to Rolexes"

05/15/2026

Sometimes, being chronically online can’t save the Gen-Z from falling prey to online counterfeiters.🌐

Because of the rising costs of goods and the counterfeiters being better at deception, the Gen-Z is said to be the most susceptible to falling for online scams, according to an article by INTA. Read more about it here: https://www.inta.org/perspectives/guest-post/gen-z-and-the-siren-song-of-counterfeit-goods/

Do you agree with the article? Let us know in the comments.

For IP, Trademark, and Amazon concerns, contact Ford Banister LLC:

✉️: [email protected]
📞: 212-500-3268

Understanding why counterfeit goods appeal to younger shoppers is the key to addressing the problem. TikTok is working with INTA’s Unreal Campaign to reach young people through a variety of means, including relatable presentations, virtual platforms, and social media engagement.

05/14/2026

Got suspended by Amazon?⚠️ Stop looking for templates and DIY-ing your appeal. You deserve the best professional help.

From creating a Plan of Action (POA) that is tailored to your case to getting legal representation for arbitration, Ford Banister LLC is here to help you reinstate your account.💼

Why choose us?

✅Proven Track Record

✅We Speak Business

✅Personal and Transparent Service

✅Effective Strategy for Amazon Sellers

✅Attorney-Led Team

Call us at 212-500-3268 or go to fordbanister.com/free-case-review for a FREE case review with an experienced Amazon arbitration attorney.



https://www.fordbanister.com/amazon-appeal-attorneys-for-suspended-sellers

If your Amazon seller account has been suspended, funds withheld, or listings removed, Ford Banister LLC helps sellers respond quickly with attorney-led appeals. We assist sellers with Plan of Action (POA) development, reinstatement strategies, and legal representation to protect your business.

05/09/2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xEPve3bQtA

Amazon's algorithms do not care about your business anymore than its AI and management care about its workers. If your Amazon seller account has been suspended or Amazon is holding your funds and refuses to release them, Ford Banister LLC damands that what humans there are left at Amazon respond.

You did everything they told you to do. Get the degree, build the resume, apply everywhere, work hard, stay motivated.And then reality hits.Hundreds of appli...