What can you do if someone copies your product descriptions?

[Former_Member]

Last week as I was browsing etsy I found a new shop that is also selling paper quilled jewelry, as I do. There are several shops that do, but we all seem to have our unique touch, as does this shop. However, this particular new shop has blatantly copied and pasted portions of MY product descriptions to use as THEIR product descriptions. Not knowing what to do, I sent an e-mail to etsy help to report the incident, and also sent a message to the shop letting them know that that is not acceptable, and gave a couple little tips about how to write product descriptions. They replied saying they were sorry, they don't know English very well, but that they'll try. Several days later it was not changed, so I sent another little kind reminder. No response. Today it was still not changed so I asked them to please remove the portions or I would have to report their shop. They replied "ok, ok" and then several minutes later replied that they did NOT copy my descriptions and said "now dont harras me".

Am I right to feel ticked off? The e-mail response from Etsy pointed to their copyright infringement information, and I'm honestly not sure if this falls within that, I mean what can they do? Are product descriptions really copyright? It's just plain tacky of them to copy mine, when I have worked hard over the last year in developing them (still an ongoing process of course). And for them to admit that they copied, and then to say they didn't, it's just so not cool!

But is there really anything I can do??

Thanks for any tips, advice, or stories!

[Former_Member]

Ack, this type of stuff happens all the time. Good for you for being persistant with the offender. If we don't persist, then these unethical types of behaviors will continue to escalate. It's an unfortunate part of business.

I don't know if product descriptions are copyright or not, but - I think it would rub anyone the wrong way to see their exact descriptions copied.

Anyway, kudos to you for staying on top of it! I plan to do the same.

_A

[JustForGiggles]

You have every right to be irritated.

I understand cut&paste descriptions if you're having a hard time but find your descriptions somewhere else!!! sheesh!!!

That's like a nextdoor neighbor stealing you lawnchairs and putting on their lawn like you're not going to notice :~/

[Former_Member]

Awww, so sorry this is happening to you. And yes, I'd be upset if this happened to me. :(

[Former_Member]

if you have the convo where they admitted to copying your descriptions, I would forward that to etsy admin and ask them again for help.

[ZenLinea]

Well, it wasn't hard to find the guy and I'm surprised that he didn't even tried to hide the fact that he used the someone else's description - it's just a copy/paste of some parts of your descriptions.
I hope that you'll get some help from Etsy, too!!!
You have every right to be irritated...

[Former_Member]

Your descriptions should be covered by copyright laws. That is the purpose of copyright laws - to protect words. If they refuse to change it on their own, I would definitely pursue whatever action Etsy requires to find them in violation.

I've had this happen to me twice, but luckily they both changed the descriptions when I threatened to contact Etsy.

[Former_Member]

Thanks for your support! I have taken screen shots of the listings, but before I decide whether to file an official report I sent them one more message showing the screen shots and giving them one more chance to change their descriptions.

Charmedesign1012 - sorry this happened to you as well, but that's great they changed their descriptions when you said you'd contact Etsy. Hopefully my latest message will scare this person into doing the same!!

[Former_Member]

That sucks, hope you get it sorted out soon and glad youve been in touch with etsy.

[Former_Member]

They changed their descriptions! Yay!