Inactive Account due to Creative reasons.

[WaterRok]

I received an email from Etsy stating that my most popular listing was made inactive because they weren't in line with creativity standards.  The email is very vague and does not tell my anything about why this happened.  When I reached out to support through chat I was told it is because my pictures are being used on other resale sights and that there is nothing I can do to reinstate my account.  Is this true?  After 5 years on Etsy and being a star seller for most of them, this has killed my business.  I am beyond devastated.  Over the years I have caught people using my pictures and sent them emails telling them to stop but it jsut keeps happening.  On Facebook and Instagram I flag these nefarious accounts and Meta does NOTHING.  I do not have the time or money to constantly pursue these bad actors.  I am really disappointed that there doesn't seem to be a process or support system to protect legitimate sellers in this type of scenario.  If someone has had success getting their account reinstated I would really appreciate it.  I did appeal but it's been 3 days and I have not heard anything.

[GlassyFields]

Sadly, pictures being stolen by others is a common seller complaint. All Etsy knows is that the pictures are on other sites making it look like the Etsy seller is reselling. 

You can use the DCMA process to have the other account take down the stolen pictures.

Then you can have Etsy reactivate the listings that were delisted.

Support misled you ... they should have told you that you can have stolen pictures removed via the DCMA process and once that is done, the steps to have your listings relisted on Etsy.

[EnchVows]

Is DCMA the same as DMCA? I would like to know more about how to do this. If you know, I look forward to your reply. Thank you.

[CoquetteBath]

DMCA: Digital Millennium Copyright ACT.

DCMA: Defense Contractor Management Agency

totally not the same thing!

@EnchVows 

[WaterRok]

Thank you for the quick response.  I have requested the pictures to be taken down but this happens all the time.  This has been devastating to my business and I don't think I will recover.  I feel like I am the one being punished and I did not do anything wrong.  There aren't any safeguards to protect me nor a means for me to have my voice heard.  I filed an appeal and have heard nothing.  How can I escalate that?

[VintageRescueSquad]

You have to do a DMCA takedown to the sites. That is the only way. Keep a copy of the takedown and provide it to etsy that you are protecting you IP

Etsy will not respond unless you do this

[CraftyCornishMaids]

It could also be this....

I personally handmake make each piece with care, using genuine 8mm crystal beads that are believed to possess unique healing and balancing properties.

...

and this one says 6mm on heading, 4mm in description, and also heals...

heading....

6mm Round Crystal Ring, Custom Crystal Wire Wrapped Rings, Gemstone Rings, Unique Rings, Rings for Women, Hippie Ring, Spiritual Rings, Ring

description

I personally handmake make each piece with care, using genuine 4mm crystal beads that are believed to possess unique healing and balancing properties.

[WaterRok]

Thank you for the reply.  Just so that I understand I should remove the size of the crystal I use?

[CraftyCornishMaids]

@WaterRok 

you can't use healing claims anywhere, it's against etsy's creativity standards

and the second one, says it is both 6mm and 4mm, one is wrong

[EnchVows]

I've been in a similar situation and it's very frustrating. Despite my multiple complaints to Etsy, I've received seemingly automated, boilerplate responses that are vague and unhelpful, repeating "the link doesn't meet creative standards" without specifying the issue. As a seller on Etsy for many years, I've always designed and made my products carefully and followed the platform's rules. It's really disappointing that I can't get a clear explanation or effective communication channel.

[FallenAngelBrass]

Which product is it? You'll get lots of help here in the forum.  Etsy always sends out vague explanations and sellers get fantastic feedback from fellow sellers. 

@EnchVows 

[CraftyCornishMaids]

@EnchVows 

You personalised travel jewellery box, small square earring organiser........

The first picture has to be of the actual item you are selling

for personalised items, the first picture has to be one that you show a personalisation on

It is none of the above

also, you can't have the first photo as a mockup- it is

It breaks the creativity standards three times with the first photo alone 

these are the creativity standards, you should read them

https://www.etsy.com/legal/creativity

[PrairiePrimitives]

@EnchVows You said that you've made "multiple complaints" to Etsy. If each of these was a separate contact, you will, almost certainly, get the same exact boilerplate response each time. 

To get anywhere with Etsy's "email" support, you need to reply to Etsy's original reply with something like "I still need help" or "I need to talk to a human." This should eventually result in a reply from a human at Etsy.