Ebay Ethics Paper

Company Overview

eBay, a company that was created to be an innovative online marketplace, was established in 1995 from the home computer of Pierre Omidyar, a computer programmer in 1995. What began as simple code for an auction website exploded into what BusinessWeek has referred to as "nothing less than a virtual, self-regulating global economy (Meg Whitman, eBay)." Nowadays, “eBay users worldwide trade more than $1,900 worth of goods on the site every second (eBay Inc.: A Short History).”

In 1998, Omidyar and his co-founder Jeff Skoll brought in a Harvard Business graduate named Meg Whitman. In 2002, eBay acquired PayPal, an online company that allows easy transactions between buyers and sellers. In 2005, eBay furthered its portfolio of supporting innovations by acquiring Skype, a company that allows easy interpersonal contact via voice and video calls. Overall, eBay’s success is still gaining momentum daily, and it continues to be the front-runner of its industry.

Overview of Corporate Commitment to Ethics

eBay’s fundamental belief that “people are basically good,” created a new kind of marketplace, forever transforming e-commerce. Today, its values continue to guide how it does business, connecting buyers and sellers around the world. A few of the core values that eBay embraces include creating opportunities for people, making a difference in the world, and caring for people because the people are its business.

Code of Ethics

Meg Whitman responsible for implementing eBay’s strong ethical values. She was the President and CEO of eBay from March 1998 to March 2008, and implemented a strong Code of Ethics and Business Conduct available to its employees online via the eBay website. John Donahue has assumed her position as CEO and maintains the ethical standards Meg put into place.

eBay’s extensive Code of Ethics requires a mandatory ethics-training program for all...