My listing was removed due to "Etsy's Creativity Standard Violation"

[MondayMooseStore]

Hi everyone,

I’m reaching out because one of my best-selling listings was removed this week due to a "Creativity Standard Violation" on Etsy.

• The product is entirely original, created by my team and me. It is neither resold, redesigned, nor sourced from others.
• This listing has been up for over four years, and all the photos were taken by me (unfortunately, these photos have been widely stolen and used by others across the internet).

I’m confident that the removal was a mistake, likely caused by Etsy’s automated system or AI. I’ve tried to resolve this by submitting a support ticket, but all I’ve received so far are automated responses, which haven’t been helpful.

I’ve been selling on Etsy for over four years, and during that time, hundreds of my photos have been stolen by other sellers on platforms like Temu or Aliexpress. If this issue isn’t addressed, I’m concerned that more "false violation warnings" could lead to the suspension or closure of my shop.

Dealing with this ongoing theft is frustrating enough, but I’m even more disheartened by how Etsy’s reliance on bots and AI is impacting sellers like myself.

If anyone has advice on how to navigate this situation, I’d be incredibly grateful. 

Thank you in advance for your support.

[EDCCollective]

If you have not yet replied to the automated responses, from what I have read in the forums, you need to do so and let them know your issue has not yet been resolved. Also, only open the one support ticket and keep replying to it if you have not yet received help.

[audreytherese]

Doubtful it was a mistake. Because "unfortunately, these photos have been widely stolen and used by others across the internet", it's well known that Etsy will see those stolen photos and assume you are the thief. While not fair, there were too many shops that were doing the opposite (using others photos to resell), so this is the best Etsy has come up with the counteract them. You need to stay on top of those that are stealing your images and issue takedowns. Or, take new photos every so often so that the thieves can't keep up. As long as you're using the same images that are also found across the internet, then you are at risk for more removals, even if you were the original photographer. 

[BagmakerSupply]

@MondayMooseStore: While Etsy does not seem to have said anything officially, comments in video presentations seem to indicate that they are checking (only?) the wholesale type sites (such as AliExpress). But it was also implied that if the picture is found on one of those sites the shop is considered guilty until proven otherwise.

Unfortunately it is on the intellectual property owner (you in the case of photos you have taken) to defend their property rights - sending Etsy copies of Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) take downs you have filed cannot hurt your case. This is a problem on every eCommerce site, but more noticeable on Etsy because of the prohibition on reselling. While the methodology may be poorly implemented, it is in response to growing complaints of wholesale items being marketed on Etsy as handmade.

"... all I’ve received so far are automated responses ..." Often the first response you get from customer support is an automated reply meant to weed out the people who contact support over common issues that can be easily solved. Every eMail from Etsy support should have a link something like "I Still Need Help". Click on that link in each reply from Etsy (or actually reply stating that you still need help) to keep the report alive otherwise Etsy will assume that it is resolved. You may have to do this innumerable times, before anything is done but do not give up. DO NOT open a new issue or contact Etsy multiple times about the same issue (doing so appears to close the one you already opened and puts the new one on the bottom of the pile). 

[CoquetteBath]

edited.

[VibeEnvy]

You mention having a team, yet have no shop members listed. You list a lot of production partners but i don't see anything in your shop that I would say is "designed" but rather they look selected from a catalog and made available for sale on your shop. Simply working with a company that makes pillows and "curating" a collection of their pillows through them does not really qualify as etsy handmade policy, this would fall under mass produced, reselling, etc. You may be the one editing the text on the candles labels, technically THAT does count under etsy handmade policy because you specifically control that design aspect, you aren't just selecting color and trim color from a dropdown menu. You may be taking your own pictures of the products but that is after the fact of what appears to be reselling or selling mass produced items.

How can you even verify that you are the designer of a square single color orange pillow, that has a production partner involved that specializes in making pillows? How can you verify those pillows are exclusively made for your shop and they are not providing the same exact square orange pillows for anyone and everyone that is interested?

[FabioMcMustache · Accepted solution]

Hello! We're sorry to hear you're experiencing issues with your listings. We've forwarded your concerns to a specialist team, and your case is being worked on as we speak - Moving forward, they will handle it directly with you, so please stay tuned to your email as they may reach out through there. Thank you! 

Please know we handle support inquiries privately per our Community Policy – we’re closing this thread, so you can get the support you need from us directly.