Etsy automation system removed my listing due to violating "Etsy's Creativity Standard"!

[HeartCraftedVN]

Hi all,

One of my best-selling listing was removed by an automation system due to violate "Etsy's Creativity Standard" but the truth is IT'S NOT VIOLATE. This is the second time this error happend to my shop.

- All photos of the items were taken by me, we are not using any stock photos or not using any photos of someone else. They were taken more than 1 year ago, and many sellers from all over marketplaces stole and used my photos.

- This item is 100% designed and handmade by me and my team. I'm not reselling it or using production partner. I'm not resold or redesigned or resource!

I know my products and my photos appear in many places all over the internet (I saw them in Temu, Shein, Ebay,...) but I can't remove all of them by myself because I don't know exactly all the places that stole my photo, it's a lot of works for me while I have to run my business.

I did open a help request but last time they replied me with an automation email and even had coding error. This time they even closed all of my help requests without any explanation!

I feel really frustated and worried for my shop now! Can anyone give me some advice what I can do now to reinstall my listing and avoid the same issue in the future? Should I take the new photos?

[AnniebelloPaper]

... it's a lot of works for me while I have to run my business..

If the bots find your photos on these other sites, they will assume you are reselling. You have to lodge takedowns every time you find your photo/product somewhere else you are not selling from. Google image search is a good place to start. 

You can't reinstate those listings until you get the all clear from Etsy or the bots will just take them down again. I would take new primary photos and add your name to every single one. Not a watermark but something actually in the photo with your name and Etsy shop written on it. It could still be covered but a lot of these thieves don't even bother with watermarks so are likely to miss something actually in the photo.

[CraftyCornishMaids]

report DCMA takedowns to the sites that are stealing your photos.

It is you responsibility to police your IP, and you say you know some of the main sites.

issue the takedowns to the main sites, especially temu, shein and e-bay, where you know they are, and check aliexpress and alibaba too.

You can also pay companies a monthly amount of money, to do it for you

you gave to protect yourself, no-one else is going to do it for you.

..... even if etsy wasn't flagging this, all those pictures of yours on other sites, are pulling customers and sales away from you, so your business is not doing as well as it should

[SwallowDigitalArt]

I have encountered the same situation. My designs were stolen and sold on the same sites. It's unbelievable!!! Why does ETSY ban us when those sites allow it!! Doesn't Etsy believe that the designs are ours? I don't know when I will be able to contact a real person. I always get the same automated response. It's really frustrating. I don't know if I should close my Etsy shop and move on to other marketplaces

[CraftyCornishMaids]

It is your responsibility to police your own IP

YOU need to issue takedowns

It's no-one elses responsibility.

They are taking sales away from you and etsy - why do you allow it?

If you let them keep going, it doesn't matter what market place you are on, they will still be stealing your customers with your own pictures

[SwallowDigitalArt]

I already reported all of them and they removed them. But I guess Etsy doesn't know about this. Your store is still closed!! Because I can't talk to a real person!!!

[CraftyCornishMaids]

I believe you had the undeclared AI issue too, more than 1 hit

[SwallowDigitalArt]

This shouldn't be my problem though!!! I have 95 products. I can't check them all one by one. Etsy needs to find a solution to this. My designs are constantly being stolen. I can't find a solution to this.

[BootifulLabels]

This shouldn't be my problem though!!! 

Whose problem should it be?  Your Etsy Shop is YOUR business and your products are your own intellectual property.  There are around 7 million such businesses on Etsy.  They are all individually owned, and each owner is responsible for their own business.  Etsy cannot police Intellectual Property that they do not own.  Legally it IS your problem.  When Etsy sees your items being sold on other sites with the exact same images, they come to the conclusion that you are reselling, which is not allowed here.  If that is not the case, it is up to you to take the appropriate action on the other sites to have your IP removed from those sites.  Etsy cannot do it for you, they have no legal right to do so. 

Your business, your creations, your responsibility.  

[SwallowDigitalArt]

I already reported all of them and proved to them that the designs are mine, but I can't prove it to Etsy. Because I can't communicate with a real person. I think I'll sell my designs on sites like Amazon or Ebay. Because I can communicate with a real person. And the products are not removed by bots.

[Juicescustomdesigns]

I have had several for the same reason.  Not violating anything but Etsy deactivates them.  You can try to appeal it but support will give you a BS canned message.  This is the end.

[FabioMcMustache · Accepted solution]

Hello! We're sorry to hear you're experiencing issues with your listings. We've forwarded your concerns to a specialist team. Thank you! 

Please know we handle support inquiries privately per our Community Policy – we’re closing this thread, so you can get the support you need from us directly.