Etsy deactivated my top listings third time this summer...

[DEZAART]

Hello!

Etsy deactivated my top listings third time this summer without reason...

The previous times problem solved after 3,4 days and they told me that it was an algorythm problem,

now after 15 days there is no answer and i have difficulties paying my employees,

i contact many times but no responce ,

it is so frustrating, we are top sellers from 2015,  we design and make our products so is so unfair

we pay more than 50K to etsy in fees at 2022

PLEASE HELP if you have any idea...

[CuriousApothecary]

Did you use any copyright keywords in your listing, that will alert bot.

[DEZAART]

No nothing...

[WearableArtEmporium]

I am having the same problem...my descriptions do not show...

[hopeandjoystudios]

I feel Etsy has started doing removals based on photos being shown elsewhere.  If they are resellers great. If it is that someone stole your photos unbeknownst to you..not great.

[DEZAART]

Yes it happen all the time, i know a lot of shop using my photos and Etsy does nothing, i inform them, i start feeling so unsecure in this platform.

[BagmakerSupply]

@DEZAART: If you hold the copyright to the pictures are you reporting them the "correct" and legal way? https://www.etsy.com/legal/ip/report

[bradgoodell]

If you file a DMCA, Etsy removes the offending listings within 24 hours.  But you have to fill out the entire form and report it correctly.

[hopeandjoystudios]

And you have to realize it is happening..

[CoquetteBath]

you also don't list anyone in your shop helping or making, only yourself. And now you say 'we' and employees and payroll.

I'm a bit confused.

[TBQSC]

@DEZAART  It appears many shops worldwide are selling the exact same items you have in your Etsy shop, including quite a few sellers here on Etsy, each claiming their items are handmade.  Etsy states handmade means "made by the seller".  Perhaps Etsy is wondering if you are actually hand making each item yourself (no production partner) ... or if you design each item and have a production partner make them for you ... or if you are purchasing them elsewhere and selling them as handmade?  Wishing you best of luck!

[AnnaleasFinest]

@TBQSC 

a lot of Etsy sellers got their photos stolen from Ali and other sellers, and they get into problems because of that.

[DEZAART]

Hello! No we make them from 2015, i design them as an architect and we have machines and 8 employees who make them...

[AnnaleasFinest]

@DEZAART 

you need to disclose in your shop who your helpers are.

[TBQSC]

@AnnaleasFinest  while I understand the stolen pictures issue from the Ali websites, it doesn't explain why I am seeing these exact same products being sold here in local stores!  @DEZAART unless you outsource your production or have given others permission to create your items, you may have a much bigger problem on your hands.

[AnnaleasFinest]

@TBQSC 

did you consider that Ali sellers market their pirate copies worldwide?

I believe the OP when he says he designed them and has 8 employees to produce them, do you think he's lying?

[TBQSC]

@AnnaleasFinest absolutely NOT, I would never do such a thing!  Please be more respectful to both me & the OP!  What I am saying is that I can go buy the exact same items here in a local store and they are not made by the OP.  That is why I was questioning if the OP had given permission for others to produce his work ... it happens!  I know others can try to replicate an item and sell it as handmade by them, but usually there are tell-tale differences from the original creator.  From what I can see, there are NO tell-tale differences between the OP & the locally sold products.  Again, please be more respectful in your posts.  We're all just trying to help the OP here.

ETA ... I am remembering a case a few years back where one of the employees who was either let go from the company or left on his own, and because the product drawings were actually his own, he began making & selling the same items himself.  For some reason, this case seems very familiar to the OP. 

[AnnaleasFinest]

@TBQSC 

asking a question is not disrespectful.

As to the multitude of identical or similar items you see in local stores and on Etsy, - this, I cannot judge.

It seems to be a hot trend then and I can't make any assumptions about who is the originator and who is jumping on the bus.

[CoquetteBath]

on a similar note, I found a piece of art at a local mass produced hobby store a year or so ago. A dog image in a very recognizable motif. The artist sells on Etsy. So I wrote to the artist and said 'hey in case you didn't know art very like yours is at this store' and got a response back.

artist has been trying in vain to keep some folks far far away from ripping off the designs and this was yet another such situation. Artist hadn't been compensated or asked. Artist intended to write to the big company corporate. No idea what happened later.

but we all know there are a lot of ripoff artists out there. Folks who can see originality but couldn't create it under any circumstances.

so they steal it.

[DEZAART · Accepted solution]

Etsy finally reply and activate my listings!

[howtobooksandmore]

Awesome, now don't just sit there and wait for the next take down to come.  Get your photos copyrighted and your designs legally protected so you can take down future infringers.  Good luck.