Here is the AuctionBytes online-auction news roundup for Monday, December 13, 2004.

Industry News & Trends

"Wal-Mart's web store crashes," by Juan Carlos Perez, Computer Weekly, 12/9/04
http://digbig.com/4cgpk

"What Santa lacks, eBay can provide," By Dean Johnson, Boston Herald, 12/9/04
http://business.bostonherald.com/businessNews/view.bg?articleid=57916

"Micro-Commerce Presents Mega-Opportunities," By Jennifer LeClaire, E-Commerce Times, 12/10/04
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/Microcommerce-Presents-Mega-Opportunities-38734.html

Weird, Unusual, Celebrity or Charity Auctions

"Auction Site Inspires New York Art Exhibit," By Nicole Maestri, Reuters, 12/10/04
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=entertainmentNews&storyID=7059073

"eBay Closes Auction Of Couple Selling Baby's Name," Turnto10.com, 12/10/04
http://www.turnto10.com/news/3988111/detail.html

"Even fathers' ghosts go on sale on eBay," by Chris Muldrow, The Free Lance-Star, 12/11/04
http://www.fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2004/122004/12112004/1600556

Fraud, Privacy, Security Issues

"EBay Vigilantism," by Susan Dominus, New York Times Magazine, 12/12/04
Free registration is required.
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/12/magazine/12EBAY.html

"Woman Says eBay Bidder Tried To Pose As Owner Of Item," TheKansasCityChannel.com, 12/10/04
http://www.thekansascitychannel.com/news/3987867/detail.html

"eBay find implicates thieves," By Diane Brooks, Seattle Times, 12/9/04
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002113739_bells09m.html

"Phish Fighters Form Alliance," By Susan Kuchinskas, InternetNews.com, 12/8/04
http://www.internetnews.com/xSP/article.php/3445511

"Ex-U.S. cyber security chief sees curb on phishing," By Lisa Baertlein (Reuters), USAToday.com, 12/9/04
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/computersecurity/infotheft/2004-12-09-phish-starving_x.htm

Miscellaneous

"eBay store is drawing interest," By Bruce C. Smith, IndyStar.com, 12/10/04
http://www.indystar.com/articles/6/200982-2656-128.html

"Neglected Sacagawea coin finds avid eBay audience," By Anne C. Mulkern (Denver Post), ContraCostaTimes, 12/12/04
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/nation/10399766.htm?1c

"Net communities may be key to future of politics," by Matt Hines, Cnet, 12/10/04
http://news.com.com/Net+communities+may+be+key+to+future+of+politics/2100-1028_3-5487855.html