I need a big help.

[PluviartMetalDecor]

Hello. I have been selling on Etsy for more than a year. I design and produce my products myself, but recently two of my products were removed because they were not handmade. I have sent emails to the help center but have not received a response. In addition, my two removed products, whose designs are my own, continue to be copied and sold by many stores. At the same time, my Star Seller badge was also removed with the following warning. "Your badges were removed because you received a final policy violation warning." I don't know why my products were removed and what exactly I should do. I'm worried that my store will be closed. Thank you for your support.

[VintageRescueSquad]

Many have experienced this and it's usually because bots use image recognition. If someone stole your photo and it's also on etsy or another site, the bot assumes you are a reseller. You need to get those other photos taken down.

[PluviartMetalDecor]

Thank you for your response. How can I prevent this? I have sent messages to the people who copy my products, but most of the time it goes unanswered.

[BagmakerSupply]

@PluviartMetalDecor: The sad reality is that you will have to take legal action. If your copyrighted images are being used without your permission on a  platform like Etsy then you need to file a DCMA takedown notice with the platform. There are very specific steps you need to take to protect yourself in these situations and you might want to do some research. Whether or not your actual designs are protected may be a harder question to answer and the advice of a qualified intellectual property attorney may be valuable.

[Vintorious]

Contact Etsy support and appeal the removals. Be persistent until you actually speak with a real human. As @VintageRescueSquad said, the removals are automated, and they don't know who was first to post the images. Do a Google reverse image search and find out where these photos are showing up, and file a takedown request with each site. 

[PluviartMetalDecor]

Thank you for your reply. I have sent an email to the help center 3 times but I can't get a response. How can I reach a real person? Also, my products are constantly being copied and I can't get hundreds of people to remove my products. What can I do about it.

[Vintorious]

I don't know how to request a call back, but that is an option that others may be able to help you with.

As to asking hundreds to remove products, you don't have to ask the individuals: ask the platform that they are listing on.

[VintageRescueSquad]

Yes, you file a DCMA takedown notice. I saw one of your items on Shein

[FallsAveVintage]

@VintageRescueSquad  Will they take it down and do they have to without a trademark or something like that? Some of the general designs are used by many like the witch and scrambled face. I'm curious about how that would work.

Unfortunately, there are so many design thieves online, it just seems like an endless battle. Makes me glad I sell vintage.

Good luck to the OP.

[ThePurplePuppy]

@FallsAveVintage 

You don't worry about the design--you file because they used your PICTURE that you took. The picture is automatically  the "property" of the one shooting said picture.

If they are using your photo it is fairly easy to prove who took it as the info is embedded in the picture. (I know know all the tech terms for this but it is there)

[FallsAveVintage]

@ThePurplePuppy  I see that about the images but the OP is also concerned about product copies which I don't think they can get removed from other sites. 

[OneEyeCatStudio]

Yet all the "handmade" Louis Vuitton, Prada, Hermes, Fendi that I reported are still listed.

[JMOldeVintage]

This from Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/seller-handbook/article/45201391727

Scroll down - 2. Filing a report for information on how to file a legal DMCA here on Etsy. However keep in mind that ideas cannot be copyrighted/tm'd. But the use of your photos &/or using your description word for word, these are your property & is IP theft.

If you find your photos on other websites, you would need to file a legal DMCA there.

Regarding the listings that Etsy has deactivated, you can send them video of you literally making the items. Show your workshop, the steps you take to complete the item.
Send only one email to Etsy & then follow up to any generic replies that your issue is not resolved. Do not open new help requests.

I'd suggest keeping the listing deactivations and the issue of the Star badges being removed as two entirely separate topics/help requests. Etsy may see a mention of the Star badge as a request to update your data & Etsy does not make changes for any shops when it comes to Star Seller data. They might then ignore the deactivated listing issues.