Etsy store suspension imminent

[MagicPosters]

Hi Everyone i'm reaching out on here as i have tried live chat and emailed etsy directly. But i'm either getting standard generic replies or no reply.

I have been selling on etsy for nearly 8 years and have shipped 35k orders in that time. Yet this month i keep getting hit with creativity policy removals and i'll be honest i don't know what i'm doing wrong. My store just got the dreaded 1 more violation and my store will be banned email.

The main items i sell are vintage patent print i recently had a creativity policy removal for a set of 3 drummer related patents from the 1920-30s please note that old patent documents and drawings are public domain and are not protected by copyright restrictions. 

As the email from etsy is so generic i have no clue what the reason why the item was removed i'm thinking its either the use of mockups or the category made by or designed by is not correct at the moment my products are under the made by category.

I have always used mockups to display my artwork as it can be hard to take really good photos. I'm sure a lot of you have tried this yourself but to be honest they will usually never look as good as some of the mockups. Getting good lighting and setting can be hard unless you get a professional company in to take photos. I do create my own videos though for my artwork which look okay. 

The mockups i use are all edited by me personally using my artwork that i have created. I have not just gone online and downloaded other sellers pictures and put them on my store, Many of these prints i've been selling for nearly 8 years. And i'm fully aware that my images have been stolen thousands of times over the years and used by sellers on various platforms. Small family businesses are unable to police stuff like this, if large corporations are unable to do it. How can it be expected that tiny businesses like many of us on here to do it. We don't have legal teams and if we did they would probably cost more than our entire profits each year. Do i need to take photos myself for all of my products photos on etsy?

If it's not the mockup issue is it the category my products are listed under is incorrect? at the moment mine are in the made by me category should it be designed by or maybe one of the other categories? 

Please note all of my products have been created by me on my computer, they are all printed by me in my studio and then packaged and shipped by me we don't use a third party for any of my items. Etsy please let me know which categories my products should be in? Especially if this is why my products are getting hit for creativity policy violations.

Any advice from the community or etsy would be greatly appreciated as i don't know what to do. I started this business 8 years ago on the side to my full time job as a carer and within 2 years i was able to give up my job and do this what i love full time. Now i can't help but think that i'm about to lose everything i've worked for and all etsy are doing is sending me generic pre written replies. This is my families livelihood i'm a father of 4 i have put everything into etsy to make it a success. All i want is some transparency from the etsy support team as to what i'm doing wrong. This store is literally my whole life if it were to get banned i would most likely be in a position where i would lose our family home.

Sorry if this all looks a bit of a mess i typed this on my phone. The stress of this is pushing me edge mentally as i feel my world is about to collapse. I have no idea how i can some assistance from etsy before my store is closed. I hope someone from etsy sees this message as live chat and emails have been no help at all so far.

Many Thanks

Gaz

[PieceByNumberQuilts]

Here's one possibility:  Have you tried reverse image searches on the items that were taken down to see if any of the big sites have copied you?  Etsy bots scan a number of those sites, and if they find someone is using the same photos as an Etsy seller, they assume the Etsy seller is reselling.  

The answer is to find who may be using your photos, and then to issue takedown notices on those sites.  When those images have been taken down, then you can appeal to Etsy.  

There are a number of forum posts with much more information than I gave above.  Maybe someone else will chime in with more details (I'm lucky enough that I haven't been hit with this so far).

Good luck to you!  

[MagicPosters]

Thank you for the reply their a numerous places that have stolen my images it would tak forever and i find it hard that etsy are actually punishing their sellers. In a way this just plays into the hands of sites like temu as in the future maybe they will have everyones images and all the etsy sellers will be banned.

[nineteen27]

The main items i sell are vintage patent print i recently had a creativity policy removal for a set of 3 drummer related patents from the 1920-30s please note that old patent documents and drawings are public domain and are not protected by copyright restrictions. 

but if you are just reprinting.

someone elses documents and patents.

and selling them.

even if they are in the public domain.

then that item is not made by nor designed by you.

[MagicPosters]

Hi Nineteen its not the case of just downloading them and printing them off. They all have to be cleaned up re-organised on a page. There is much more work that goes into one old patent than probably 99%of the prints that are sold on etsy. They are very poor quality documents some are 150 years old that have been brought to life into a piece of artwork. 

I did think sourced by maybe the correct category If etsy want me to put sourced by, I would do this in a heart beat. I just want it to be correct i would like etsy to clarify this for me as i do not want to lose my store. You would like to think that i would be able to go on live chat and say hey am i listing this item in the correct category and if live chat can't help maybe an email i sent a month ago would be answered but they have still not replied. 

[nineteen27]

cleaning up someone elses images.

even if it took 99 hours.

changing the colors.

etc.

still does not make it made by or designed by you.

you are not the designer of the image.

you are not the artist of the image.

and this is etsys definition of sourced by.

so you would not be able to list them there either.

Sourced by a seller

Items that enable buyer creativity, including craft and party supplies, and items that are personalized with a buyer’s custom text or image.

Items ‘sourced by a seller’ include only:

• Craft supplies: Tools or materials whose primary purpose is to create a new item by hand.
  • E.g. Craft tools, such as knitting needles or clay sculpting tools; craft materials such as yarn or beads; craft blanks (items that are not intended to be used without further crafting), such as paintable figurines or unfinished wooden rounds; and craft kits, such as a tie-dye or terrarium kit
• Party supplies: Items whose primary purpose is to decorate a special event, to give it a unique or personal aesthetic.
  • E.g. Table decorations; balloons and streamers; holiday decor; party favors; gift wrap
• Buyer-personalized items produced by a production partner: Items created using a buyer’s unique text or image, produced by a production partner.
  • E.g. A t-shirt, hat, or neon sign that can be personalized with a buyer’s name or special phrase

[PrimFun]

@MagicPosters But do the companies for the old documents still retain the rights to them?  If they still retain have you asked for permission to reprint as a poster>  

[nineteen27]

i stand by what i said earlier.

[JJewellerySuppliesUK]

I haven't read all that's written above but if Etsy sends you a generic reply you must answer (even if it barely addresses your issue) otherwise Etsy closes the matter and you have to start again. 

[MagicPosters]

The reply i always get from etsy is a noreply email address so the email will just bounce back to us

[MagicPosters]

Maybe my patent prints should be in the 

Handpicked by a seller

Vintage items, items from nature, and certain collections of items that a seller personally selected and curated for sale.

• Items ‘handpicked by a seller’ include only:
• Vintage items: Items that are 20+ years old, that the seller personally curated or collected. This also includes digital files of scanned vintage content like photographs, books, or patterns, as long as they comply with our Intellectual Property Policy. Etsy may ask for additional photo documentation or information about vintage items in your shop, such as their source, age, designer, or materials.

[nineteen27]

i linked to that a minute ago.

but you are not selling digital files.

you are selling actual reprints.

[TBQSC]

You may have a few IP infringing items listed! 

In addition, your first picture shows a frame ... yet your listing says frames are not included.  The problem is, buyers won't read that far down to see that disclaimer (move it to the top), and Etsy says the first picture MUST be of the actual item being sold.  So if a buyer sees your listing and buys it, they could file a NAD because your first photo is not what they actually received ... they will be expecting a framed item!

[MagicPosters]

So the first image should be of just the print? and any other images can possibly be shown how they would look in a frame?

[MagicPosters]

JDTotesnDolls Its part of american law patents they are not just public domain the documents can not be copyrighted 

[MagicPosters]

I have removed the link to the other store as your right it should not be on here.

[vintageNCtreasures]

@MagicPosters Wrote "I have always used mockups to display my artwork as it can be hard to take really good photos."

The new rules state that you can NOT use mockups now. 
The pictures need to be of the items you're selling. 

Etsy's Creativity Standards - Our House Rules | Etsy

Listings for items ‘made by a seller’ must use original photo or video content of the final product. 

[MagicPosters]

Are you sure this is correct this is from etsy posted on the 28th August 

Your listing’s first photo, the image displayed in search results, is crucial when it comes to inspiring shoppers to click and increasing your conversion rate. A few important considerations to keep in mind:

• The first photo should clearly show the item that’s for sale and be eye-catching enough that buyers want to take a closer look.
• Choose a photo that’s high resolution, clear and well lit (The recommended size for listing images is 2000px for the shortest side of the image, and a resolution of 72PPI.)
• Avoid using collages in your first listing photo, since it can be confusing for shoppers to determine at a glance what’s for sale. It will also serve as a thumbnail and may be hard to see on smaller screens.
• Images should not have "Your text here" placeholder copy, but should reflect an example of a finished product.
• Each of your listings should include multiple high-quality photos, which are critical for buyers when deciding when to make a purchase.

Pro tip: The Etsy Search Visibility page is also available on the Etsy Seller app, making it easy to take photos on your phone and quickly make updates to your listings. You can also see all your personalised insights and recommendations directly from the app. Make sure you’re running the latest version of the app to see these new features!

[vintageNCtreasures]

Yes, it's correct. I copied the info from that link I posted above.

You can't get any clearer that this:
"Listings for items ‘made by a seller’ must use original photo or video content of the final product."

Here's another link on image requirements:

Listing Image Requirements - Our House Rules | Etsy

Use original photos

"When creating your listings, you must use your own photos—either photos you took yourself or had someone take for you. These photos should showcase the actual finished product that you made, designed, handpicked, or sourced. By accurately portraying the condition, quality, and quantity of your items, you help build trust with buyers.

Exceptions

In certain situations, using original photos of the exact item may not be possible. You can use stock photos in some limited circumstances, where you are offering either personalized/customized items or an item made with a production partner, as discussed below."

As for as I can tell most of your items are "not" personalized/customized for a buyer nor are you using a production partner which for both sometimes "stock" photos are allowed. 
I did notice you have some items that are personalized which using a mock up would be ok just ON those listings.

ETA: You also need to tag items that have profanity in them as "mature" and you have to blur out those words in the main picture.

[MagicPosters]

So for the made by category the images must be taken of the item and not mockups but the other categories mockups are possibly allowed? it doesn't say they can or can't be used as its not mentioned. I wish etsy would clarify this a lot of sellers use mockups especially in the artwork section of etsy.

[vintageNCtreasures]

The rules state clearly when mockups can be used. It's right there in the rule book

Mockups can't be used unless the items are personalized or items you use a production partner.

ETA: as for using "Handpicked" you can't use that because your items are NOT vintage or craft supplies/tools nor party supplies.

[MagicPosters]

Brilliant so all of my prints that are not personalized i need to take a photo of the item thats not a problem i can do this it would certainly make my images stand out on etsy as here is a link for a search for prints on etsy and every single print is using a mockup. And i literally mean every single item on the first 10 pages is using a mockup in thats as far as i went and none are using actual images. 

I would love etsy to reach out on here and say you need to not use mockups for prints. I'm sure thousands of artwork sellers on etsy, would love know the answer to this just a simple yes or no would be put a lot of sellers minds at rest. 

https://www.etsy.com/uk/search?q=prints&ref=search_bar

[nineteen27]

but.

you are still not the designer.

nor the artist.

so the items are not made by nor designed by you.

and they are not vintage.

or a craft or party supply.

[MagicPosters]

I go back to my question before nineteen so are vintage artwork prints not allowed to be sold on etsy? Please bear in mind that every single vintage artwork being sold as a print would all fall under the same category from botanicals drawings to patents, to old paintings.

Thats why i asked that link i shared before would they have to go after having nearly half a million sales on etsy. If this is the case i think etsy should reach out and say that it's not allowed just a simple yes or no this will be there's just like mine livelihood that i have spent 8 years on etsy growing. 

[nineteen27]

i sell vintage artwork.

they were made over 20 years ago.

they are allowed here.

i am not reprinting them.

they are the actual physical prints.