That story is absolutely horrifying - and I'd be interested in a legal opinion as to whether they have the right to destroy someone else's property just because they say they have. Otherwise, what have we got laws for?

> Paypal are now investigating. My guess is that they'll decide it was a regrettable mistake either by the computer or an overzealous employee. That won't give me any reassurance that it couldn't happen again.

And if they decide it was a regrettable mistake, they are going to replace a unique antique violin how?

Perhaps if this shameful story goes viral it will help to persuade them. A meme on Twitter and/or Facebook can build up a true tidal wave of bad PR. And public reaction does count for something when it attains a certain level of critical mass. (Didn't Verizon just rescind a new $2 "convenience charge" because of the customer outrage it caused? I also remember that Facebook did an about-face PDQ in the wake of users' reactions when they tried to claim that they "owned" all the photographs which people had put up.) If the stink is big enough, the big boys will take notice.

This needs to go out in the blogs and Twitter/Facebook feeds of a few well-known musicians & journalists, with a request to Retweet or Share. THAT'll get someone's attention. If moral rights or wrongs don't impress Paypal, maybe international embarrassment will.