Site using artists work from Etsy

[WilliamLeeHolt]

This site, not quite fully functional yet, is listing a lot of prints from artists here on Etsy.
www.988store.com

Not sure what can be done about it, but here is the thread in the forums:
http://www.etsy.com/teams/7722/business-topics/discuss/11519017/page/1/

[WilliamLeeHolt]

Please take the time to report this site to GoDaddy... hopefully it will be taken down.

[modernlinocut]

Thank you so much for posting this! They have some of mine!!!! :( Off to send a note to godaddy.....

[WilliamLeeHolt]

Update... GoDaddy has stated they are NOT the hosting site, and can do nothing. Besides, as of yesterday afternoon, the "Buy" button had been linking back to my Etsy store. So, not sure what is going on.

[TheContemporaryPrint]

This is terrible. What happens when you purchase a piece? They have a lot of my prints for sale. Thanks William, e

[Former_Member]

Can Etsy shed any light on this? It does seem to refer the buyer to the etsy site but is offering it cheaper! Please post any answers anyone gets about this. It is very concerning!!

[Former_Member]

I wrote to Etsy Support to alert them of this phenomenon. If you google 988 there is a link that refers to it as scam site. I suspect they collect the money from buyers and the buyer will not receive any product??!
Seems unsavory to say the least.

[Former_Member]

Here's the response I got back from Etsy Support on this issue:

Thank you for getting in touch with us about this. We understand your concerns and your desire to protect your work.
Since the alleged infringement is taking place on another site, you may want to contact the administrators of the site where the infringement is taking place; many sites have policies to address these issues.

As a venue, Etsy cannot provide legal advice to our members. You may want to consider consulting an expert for help, such as an attorney.

We have compiled some basic info about copyright and intellectual property on our Help site: http://www.etsy.com/help/article/263?utm_source=compass&utm_medium=email

Some sellers have found that placing a watermark on their images helps protect their photos from being used by others. A watermark is a transparent "stamp" or text you place over your images using editing software. This decision is up to you. You can search our Forums for helpful posts from other sellers about using watermarks: http://www.etsy.com/forums

[annasee]

Thank you for posting this. This is very disturbing and just makes me think of the countless other ways work is being sold and copied without our consent and knowledge. I know it is the price of doing business for the kind of work we do, but even with a watermark, it's very easy to get rid of and I do feel that Etsy, as a host site, should take a little more responsibility in helping to protect the work of its sellers. I do really appreciate Etsy for providing the venue of which we are able to sell work, but am a little disappointed at their response as the other site is also infringing on Etsy.

[Former_Member]

Anna is right. This issue is not about individuals failing to protect their copyright: it is about Etsy not protecting the information and files that members entrust to It. The fact that it has happened at all raises all sorts of questions about security of information on this site. The other site obtained all the details it has published by using the Etsy endorsed APi or by crawling the site. Either way it would not be difficult for Etsy IT to identify how it is being done and to block access.

All the Support responses I've seen and a very patronising post I saw from Etsy's Legal Dept indicate that Etsy is trying to confuse the issue rather than address it.

AM

[starmagnolialino]

I clicked on the buy button and like William said, it linked to the etsy page for the print. So if the linked page is legit, what's in it for them?

[Former_Member]

I reckon they are using the site to build up traffic and make money out of ads. Or some other dubious purpose that doesn't have anything to do with the products on the site.

[starmagnolialino]

Of course! (slaps head) - Thanks