Excessive Etsy bot take downs of supposed 'counterfeit items' of true vintage items.

[HatsForward]

For the past couple of months (at least), I have been listing vintage items and renewing unsold vintage items only to have many of them deactivated immediately. This happens now on a daily basis where my items are being removed and flagged for 'supposedly being counterfeit'  and sent to Etsy for review. A few days later these items are reviewed, and are back up visible in my shop (confirming NOT counterfeit). The emails are constant. Etsy messaging us along the subject line stating "It looks like your listings may have counterfeit items". I always take emails like this seriously so when I'm continuously bombarded with false warnings, it gets tiresome, and has me feeling a little unwelcome as of late to run my small business on Etsy as I predominantly have been doing for the past 10 years.

I am a long-time experienced vintage seller who puts a lot of effort into collecting, researching, understanding, and relaying provenance for every item. If it is not vintage, I list those such items on my eBay store or elsewhere. Like most other Etsy sellers who rely on their shops for a living, I would say on behalf of us all, 'we' are for the most part all very conscientious and honest with what we decide to list. For example, I will refrain from listing a vintage Gucci hat on Etsy, unless I am able and willing to obtain in writing a guarantee of it's authenticity.

I understand from the Trust & Safety side, and know there are counterfeit items being sold all over the marketplace these days. So I appreciate the closer scrutiny - this will benefit the marketplace for all in the long run. However, these automatic bot take downs are only increasingly inconveniencing those who are are selling vintage and/or not specifically producing their items, let alone counterfeit items. All the fakes out there will get taken down eventually but they often adapt and find ways to manage to get their items seen elsewhere. 

This is only a thought, but perhaps the Etsy bots could somehow be coded and trained to better learn and differentiate listings originating from trusted sellers with no prior infractions. This is not to suggest that items from trusted shops should not be reviewed also, but rather to not be triggered for removal so erratically. 

[PlatypusDream]

Etsy is TRYING to control the overwhelming amount of counterfeits on Etsy.

I dare you to look up "Rolex" on Etsy.

I've had take downs for perfectly legal Christian Dior vintage patterns issued by Vogue from the 1970s.

It is dangerous to list the items here, and I'm afraid it will always be.

[HatsForward]

I see what you mean! Looked up 'Rolex Watch' and got 12,054 results, some with paid with Ads!  Seems like a losing battle?  

I'm more likely to buy Rolaids than a Rolex anyway!

[HephaestusForgeCraft]

certain companies like rolex disney and a few others aggressively search the internet and file a huge amount of DMCA and report items that are legitimate due to massive amounts of counterfeits and infringement on intellectual property it could be the real deal and you could have both the original receipt and a letter of appraisal signed and everything from a reputable company they would still report it and request it be taken down.

the bots that certain four letter selling platforms use is known to overlook real cases of counterfeits and after all there are a huge number of shops reselling kitchen knife sets for 3 to 5 times what the same set costs on amazon that they purchased it from these dont get taken down and are made with pakimascus or damascus that was made in pakistan with no quality control and often a number of poor forge welds that could allow the knives to break in use. when a knife breaks the broken pieces have to go somewhere sometimes the go flying when they do it presents safety risks.

[HatsForward]

You're right (Etsy won't get involved) but you can always appeal to the authorized representative of the company. A couple years ago I had to do so. Thankfully I was successful. The rep agreed and even apologized and wrote to Etsy to permit me to sell the item and have it reinstated.

It is concerning to think that certain selling platforms are  overlooking real cases of counterfeits. It makes me wonder if it is mainly to avoid/delay mass revenue loss while still appearing prudent.

[SpottedDog1]

Some may remember the whole "US Navy" fiasco from a few years ago when a rep came in and had virtually everything with the word Navy removed. Quite the job to get that reversed, constant communication and frankly it was perplexing why we weren't defended more by this platform. I had nearly 300 items deactivated, was a nightmare. 

[howtobooksandmore]

Etsy will never defend you in an intellectual property dispute because it would cost them money to fight your battles.  If Etsy did defend you, they would lose their protection for something somebody else and it would cost them money.  If there is one thing Etsy will never do, it is spend money on behalf of a seller.