Online auction giant TradeMe has been accused of bullying tactics after serving a copyright infringement notice to a fledgling rival.

Henry Aung, owner-operator of trading website lixtor.co.nz, has been accused of copyright breaches in Lixtor’s terms and conditions and privacy policy, which TradeMe claims are copies of its own policies.

Mr Aung says the allegations are wrong, and just an attempt to try to “intimidate” a small competitor.