EBay Dispute With Craigslist Is Subject of U.S. Inquiry

EBay, the online auction site, said on Tuesday that it was cooperating with a Justice Department investigation into Craigslist’s disputes with the company.

The Justice Department opened the investigation of eBay, said Kent Jarrell, a company spokesman, who did not provide details.

Craigslist, the online classified ad site, claims in a pending lawsuit in San Francisco that eBay stole confidential information to start a competing online ad site when the two companies were in negotiations about eBay purchasing a stake in Craigslist.

“We will cooperate with any inquiry related to the disputes between eBay and Craigslist,” Amanda Miller, an eBay spokeswoman, said in an e-mail. “EBay believes that Craigslist’s allegations against eBay are without merit.”

Troy P. Sauro, a lawyer for Craigslist, which is based in San Francisco, declined to comment about the investigation.

Stock in eBay, which is based in San Jose, Calif., fell 2 cents, to $29.40 a share on Tuesday.