Etsy delisting my items despite proof. Getting Final Warning weeks after their last take down.

[#1]

Last fall I had Etsy deactivating some of my listings. I do some consignments and wholesale so some items may appear elsewhere. So to demonstrate that I made my own items I sent photos of my design files, the process of printing my designs on items such as phone cases or coasters, and the programs and machinery I use. Etsy recognized the proof and reinstated my listings. Recently they are delisting my items again. So after the canned response of "your items don't comply read the handbook" I reactivated the previous email thread that reached an actual person who reinstated my listings. However Etsy stuck with their decision this time? And then nearly two weeks later I get a final warning that just made my stomach plummet. They also removed my star seller badge as an extra kick to the gut.

Can a Mod help me out here? I don't know how else to prove to etsy that my items are made by me.  Want me to send you a custom made item? I'd be happy to take step by step photos and send an item as proof!

It is so frustrating that Etsy is advertising the "human side" when sellers do not get humans to help us. This is a main source of income for many of us. Being self employed, I don't get benefits like severance checks or unemployment. We invest SO MUCH TIME getting our shops up only for them to permaban our stores on what feels like a whim and a misunderstanding. I am juggling maintaining my sales, preparing for art shows, learning new crafts; I cannot keep fighting this all the time.

[PoochandTabby]

@FancyTogs

I am on a laptop, using Chrome and went to the blue moon and star pendant watch, right clicked and hit "search image with google." I can then go to "exact match" and it lists all the exact matches. I did the same with the owl watch beside it and found it all over the place too.

The only difference is the charm added. I can send you a screenshot or link to what I'm seeing if you'd like via forum mail. 

[FancyTogs]

@PoochandTabby 

"The only difference is the charm added. "

Then they are photos which feature the same sun & moon watch component as AnnaleasFinest is incorporating into her assembled product. 

But they are different photos.

All the exact matches on Etsy that I checked were of AnnaleasFinest's listing on different national versions of Etsy, and most were Etsy market pages (pre-programmed search pages that Etsy uses to increase Google search ranking for specific search phrases).

Etsy are looking for exact match photos.

Other sellers on Etsy are allowed to incorporate the same components into their products (as supplies, handmade assemblies or personalised). They are not using the same photos.

Lawrence

[PlatypusDream]

There are STILL Dr. Who, The Little Prince, Avengers, Lord of the Rings, Supernatural, Captain America and Coraline items in the shop.

Etsy sometimes uses the wrong reason for take downs just to get the counterfeits off the site.

They also throttle and hide law breaking listings from search.

[GlassyFields]

Stated differently,

When Etsy bots find identical photos on other selling sites, they have no way of knowing if the owner of the photos is selling on multiple venues or if the photos have been stolen for the purpose of reselling.

The best work-around I can think of is to use different photos for different venues.

The best way to prove that you are the owner is to file DCMAs if photos have been stolen and are being used w/o your approval.

I do feel for all the sellers who get caught in the net of erroneous takedowns and all the consequences that follow.

But imagine if Etsy got into the business of judicating rightful ownership ... they would end up in the middle of a finger pointing game between resellers and rightful owners. I can't even begin to imagine that working well or consistently or fairly. It would be another loophole for resellers. And the resources to attempt to judicate would be enormous.

So I do feel for the sellers of wrongful takedowns but I think the solution is to use different photos for different sites and file DCMAs when necessary.

[Girlfriendnecklace]

I think it might be due to Brand names you use even though you said inspired. The best would have been you redo your photos of your designs before reinstating the listings.

[GlassyFields]

ahhh 'inspired by' are words of death for a listing. That makes it fan art which is fine for personal use and over the red line if used to make a profit.

[ClaimYourselfJewelry]

Copycats stealing photos and designs and etsy "punishing" the original designer/creator is a serious problem no one seems to care about. Hundreds if not thousands of sellers are victims of bots deactivating their listing and finding someone from the assistance willing to help is no easy task. Even in front of undeniable evidence they'll keep with their standard replies, sometimes you can get the listings reactivated sometimes you can try and try a million times but you won't succeed. And even if they reactivate them they can take them down again. Maybe the bots or someone reporting them if people think you're reselling items. Check very carefully what you're selling, if your photos and designs have been stolen. Add to your listing watermarked photos, photos and videos of you making the items, show the production steps a little. If even this doesn't work, then you'll have to give up and focus on something else, a new project, a new design...until someone from Etsy will actually do something about copycats and photo theft, there's nothing else to do. 

[InTheMarginsStudio]

@FancyTogs  I want to thank you for sharing so much your knowledge! I will try to keep this in mind while I re do my listings.

[FancyTogs]

@InTheMarginsStudio 

Sadly I do not have a simple answer to your problem, but I hope the slightly tangential discussion has been of benefit.

You need to track down other marketplaces which are using your images and issue copyright takedown notices to them.

Keep a record of takedown notices, and replies, to forward to Etsy as proof for your appeal.

Appeal to Etsy.

Some sellers are copying their removed listings and using the copy with different images. WARNING: This can get you into big trouble if Etsy are removing your listings for a different reason than having the same photos on other marketplaces.

Watermark your photos.

Lawrence

[Hertfordweaver]

Not trying to justify the take downs but it seems you would never be aware of the photo theft. Etsy will leave it up to you to issue the legal docs to have them take down your photos. Does it seem logical that a video will prove you have the actual item and can a video be stolen? I've done some videos, but only where I thought they would be helpful to show haw something worked or for detail but maybe this would be another reason to video.