Craigslist, eBay in classified crossfire

Web-based classifieds giant Craigslist has countersued its minority owner, eBay Inc., for allegedly violating federal and state antitrust laws. It claims eBay attempted to use information from its 28% stake in Craigslist to benefit its own classifieds site Kijiji, which launched last year in the US.

EBay said the allegations are unfounded and an attempt to distract from eBay's lawsuit, filed in April, alleging that Craigslist leaders Craig Newmark and Jim Buckmaster engaged in a series of “clandestine transactions” intended to dilute eBay's stake unfairly.