Is there an Etsy policy for another shop copying your items?? HELP!

[Former_Member]

Hi everyone! I have a slight issue...

I have a crochet shop, as do quite a few people on Etsy. No big deal. But I've noticed a particular crochet shop "favorite"-ing a lot of my items in the past month or so. And I've noticed this particular shop is slowly starting to look more and more like my shop. But tonight it has crossed the line. Last week I listed a brand new item: http://www.etsy.com/listing/76110949/delightful-daisy-flower-coasters. Now, I know I'm not allowed to call out this particular shop and I'm not allowed to put this shop on blast; so I won't. But, I will say that tonight, this particular shop has listed the SAME EXACT item in their shop. EXACTLY THE SAME. Right down to the number of petals on the flowers.

Now, I know looking around in crochet shops, a lot of shops have similar items, but everyone's are slightly different -- unique to that shop and the person crocheting those items. But this is an EXACT REPLICA COPY of my flower coasters! As flattering as it is that this person has stalked out my shop and has made a lot of very similar items to mine, I feel like this has just gone overboard.

So, my question -- is there an Etsy policy about situations like this? Is there something I can do? Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to handle this or what to do? I'm just shocked that someone would have the audacity to do such a thing! AHHH!

I really really appreciate anyone who takes the time out to read this and help me out! Thank you in advance! :D

[Former_Member]

Nope.

It sucks, but I had the same. A person favortied half my shop, then put in THIER shop announcement that they're "inspired by the great soap shops" here and will be making thier own. At the time only my things were favorited, about 30 items.

All you can do is block the person so you don't have to see it, and go about your life.

[Former_Member]

I've seen someone post in their shop announcement that deigns and ideas are exclusively their design with copyright info. Then they even put something like Copy cats are not cool. Please respect that... or something to that effect.

Maybe you should block them and post something like that in your shop announcement. I know that crochet takes a lot of time, especially coming up with original designs.

Have you sent them a message asking them to not copy your designs? Sometimes asking them to remove items may work... or I've at least seen people say that in the forums.

If they are using your photos though, For sure Etsy will make them take it down.
Best of luck with everything... :(

[hautecards]

I found it... It wasn't that hard...

You have a really cute shop, some of the stuff there I wouldn't imagine to seen it done in crochet pieces...your items are really pop and designy.. Attractive to me as a designer and I don't buy many crochet things..
As far as I can see, your products look better finished than the competition, like you can actually finish your edges beautifully even in different colors.. Your pics are better.. I don't know anything about crochet except wearing/using it LOL but you have many things that are interesting to me..

If I were you, I wouldn't worry much about this particular seller.. If you are the trendsetter, then just go on and come up with other ideas, better yourself and your quality will show the better buy.. The only thing that can possibly bug you is appearing in search results, which is what you want to always be tops..

I'm afraid that there's no system to be able to proof on paper (except the opening date of the stores) on about who did what first.. She can argue that she saw that somewhere else.. That she has liked your stuff because it seems similar to other people's, etc. There's always possible excuses.. So just to try to move on, and show a better quality of product, you'll be fine!

[Former_Member]

*sigh* this just stinks.

Thanks for the advice everyone. I appreciate all of your kind words and encouragement. :)

<3

[hautecards]

Something that can help:
Use your little bee, as your brand.. You can put it in the corner of your pics, so people can identify immediately your products.

Use the bee on your banner.

I would use a phrase, like "the original daisy crochet shop" or the "the original crochet honey bee" "home of the original flower coasters" something that make you claim ownership of the idea.

Your colors and pieces are already cool enough, so you are good there..

[FrazzledFinch]

Honey Bee, I visited the competition. I *do* know about crochet, and your items are sooooo much better made. It's like Waterford crystal vs Walmart glasses, ya know? Plus you have better photos, and it seems like even your yarn is better quality.

Keep your chin up, and as we say around my house "push your ignore button". This too shall pass.

BTW....the constant "favorite" thing is happening to me with another jewelry seller...I wondered what that was about. Remind me of my sage advice when you have to peel me off the ceiling sometime!

[Former_Member]

@haute - Thanks for the tips! :)

@perfectjewel - thank you for the compliments! And I literally laughed out loud about your analogy - waterford vs walmart - so funny! Thank you! :) and yea, watch out for those constant "favoriters"!

[ShabbyRoad]

Those coasters are so cute ) sorry this has happened.

I've had the same over and over, but not replicas just the ideas and my photos, but in the end, they can't be you, only you are uniquely you.

I am not flattered in the least either, it stinks but life goes on and it doesn't hurt sales and hopefully this won't hurt yours either.

Great idea about using the little bee as your brand

Ember

[JaneStaufferPaperCo]

Your items are really nice.
Why not, in description, add, "an original design by HoneyBeeAffairs."
Also, maybe a statement..."Pattern copyright by HoneyBeeAffairs"

If you made the design and you put it out there.. it is to the best of my knowledge your copyrighted design...even if you do not submit a legal form
copyright.

But......don't let this person use up too much of your creative time trying to
outwit her.

Unfortunately this happens on many levels.
Do what you are doing....your work is adorable.

[FruitfulFeet]

You should be flattered that the shop is copying your designs...that means it's good!!! We have knockoff everything...and it's usually from the really cute stuff! So keep up the good work!! Don't let this get you down! :)

[Former_Member]

Hi there,

I recently posted about a Facebook fan telling me she was copying my work and asked for advice on this awkward situation, so I completely understand how you're feeling right now!

You might want to take a look at the thread here:

http://www.etsy.com/teams/5002/etsy-success/discuss/8609463/page/1

This article is particularly good:

http://artisansgalleryteam.blogspot.com/2011/06/inspiration-or-copy-where-is-line.html

and it was very helpful to get feedback from others on how to deal with it. In the end, I wrote a polite but firm response bringing the issues around copying - breach of Intellectual Property rights etc. - to her attention.

It might be worthwhile to contact the shop to let her know you've noticed the similarities and ask her to refrain from copying your work and remove those pieces from the shop, as there are Intellectual Property issues involved. Any crafts person worth their salt should understand the difference between being influenced by someone (taking an idea and developing it in a different direction) and just plain copying.

Here's what I've learned from all this:

Copying is not flattery - it's stealing.

The fact that people admire you're work enough to want to copy it means your ideas and designs work - this is good. You're the one with the design vision, so your copycat will always be one step behind.

Keep developing your work - the more complex and skilled it is, the less likely someone is to copy it. Competition pushes us to differentiate our work and establish our own individual niches.

I also took a look at your shop and the 'competition' and agree with other comments already made here - the quality of your work stands out a mile, so don't let another less talented person rob you of your energy or focus.

Keep moving forward and best of luck!

Angela x

[JeannieRichard]

Seems like this 'copying' topic is hot of late.

Being copied is actually very much part of an artist's journey.
Think nothing of it but of course, don't get pushed over too.
Do what you can to protect your work.

You are the one who manifested the concept, the idea, the creation.
Copiers can only duplicate.
You can evolve and expand more work, copiers cannot.
You are the original, copiers are fake.

Be strong, don't give up, don't give in ;)

Your flip flop coasters are very very cute, it made us chuckle :)
http://www.etsy.com/listing/64339855/tropical-flip-flop-coasters-crocheted

Peace and all the best!

[Former_Member]

Thanks everyone for all of the great advice! :D
@Grace -- you're absolutely right, copying is not flattery -- it's stealing. I will take a look at that article.

I'm stuck between whether I want to contact the other shop owner or not. Part of me wants to make it known to that shop that I know they've copied. But the other part of me doesn't want to waste anymore of my "creative energy" fretting over this anymore. *shrug*