Appeal Denied - But Google Drive Evidence Was Never Opened 💔

[AsanaCrystals]

I wanted to share my recent experience in case it helps others—and maybe to find out if anyone’s been through something similar.

Our shop was suspended after some of our product images were flagged, likely due to copycat sellers misusing our original photos. We submitted an appeal right away… but it was denied.

After checking, we realized something important: the Google Drive folder with all our appeal evidence—sketches, CAD files, original product photos, and a full behind-the-scenes video—was never opened. The link shows no activity at all.

This makes me wonder if our appeal was reviewed entirely by automation and if AI can ignore appeal files.

We absolutely respect Etsy’s efforts to protect the platform and its policies. And we’re so grateful for the opportunity we had to grow our shop here to 18.000 - 5 star seller  But it’s deeply discouraging not to know if our side was ever fully seen.

If anyone has advice on what to do next, or has faced something similar, I’d be very grateful to hear it.

Warm thanks to Etsy for supporting handmade sellers—and to this wonderful community for reading.

—Kate

[VintageRescueSquad]

The only way to fight it is to file a DMCA takedown with the sites running your photos. Give a copy of the takedown to etsy to prove you are protecting your IP (photos). Etsy will not investigate or open anything you send them. You have to go through the proper channels.

[dayspringcollectible]

Etsy would rather not be bothered by appeals, and certainly is not interested in reviewing evidence.  The only thing they will seem to accept are copies of DMCA notices, as @VintageRescueSquad  stated, as that is a legal process they HAVE to acknowledge.

[cindylouwho2]

They never looked at my evidence either; the refusals are automated. I did eventually manage to get my item restored, however. You can check my Tumblr for instructions on how to get the problem fixed; filing DMCAs is only a tiny part of it. (I never bothered with that, and neither do many other sellers @dayspringcollectible @VintageRescueSquad )