Here is the AuctionBytes online-auction news roundup for Wednesday, January 5, 2005.

Industry News & Trends

"Counterfeit Goods That Trigger the False Alarm," By Don Oldenburg, Washington Post, 1/4/05 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A45994-2005Jan3.html

"Agencies should shift to online auctions, scholar says," By Kimberly Palmer, GovExec.com, 1/3/05 http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0105/010305k1.htm

"Turn Your Handiwork Into Profits on eBay," by Sarah E. Needleman, Wall Street Journal's StartUpJournal http://www.startupjournal.com/columnists/sellingonline/20050104-needleman.html

"eBay fights back against phishers," By Stefanie Olsen, Cnet, 1/4/05 http://news.com.com/2100-1029_3-5512182.html

Weird, Unusual, Celebrity or Charity Auctions

"North Korean Medals Put on Auction on eBay's Web Site" Yonhap News, 1/4/05 http://www.yonhapnews.net/Engnews/20050104/300700000020050104100557E6.html

"Jacko's ex puts sparkler on eBay as split gets nasty," by Bill Zwecker, Sun-Times, 1/4/05 http://www.suntimes.com/output/zwecker/cst-ftr-zp04.html

"Get your bids in for Florida store," By Karen Gardner, North Adams Transcript, 1/4/05 http://www.thetranscript.com/Stories/0,1413,103~9054~2633920,00.html

"Keen to buy a motel? Try eBay," (Cox News Service), the Electric New Paper http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/top/story/0,4136,80554-1,00.html

"Texas snow auctioned on eBay," (AP), CNN.com, 1/4/05 http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/01/04/snow.ebay.ap/index.html

Miscellaneous

Interesting article about how relief workers use technology (paid subscription required) "Relief, High-Tech Style: Tsunami Aid Workers Rely On Sat Phones, GPS, Internet To Communicate, Coordinate," by Rebecca Buckman, Wall Street Journal, 1/4/05 http://digbig.com/4cjnq