E-auctioneer investigated

WASHINGTON - EBay, the largest internet auctioneer, is under scrutiny by US antitrust enforcers over the company's efforts to stop online software that can search multiple auction sites.

EBay, which wants users to connect to its auctions only through its own website, blocked AuctionWatch's servers from accessing the site. In December, it sued Bidder's Edge.

The antitrust inquiry centres on software known as "crawlers" or "shopping bots" that search other websites for the best bargains.

EBay goods can be compared with those on competing sites.

In the suit against Bidder's Edge, EBay claims the smaller company violated a California statute designed to bar computer hacking.