My listing was removed multiple times due to violating "Etsy's Creative Standards"

[BeanDaikon]

Hi everyone,

I had a listing removed about 2 weeks ago due to violating "Etsy's Creative Standards". And it is one of my oldest and best-selling listings and was removed many times by errors.

I am concerned that the listing was removed by mistake by Etsy's automated system/bot/AI. I tried opening a support ticket but only got an automated response, which was completely unhelpful.

I believe my listing strictly adheres to the "Etsy Creative Standards" with the following information:

- The items are designed and manufactured by BEANDAIKON, meaning they are created by me and my team. We do not resell or redesign them, nor do we source them from others.

- The listing photos were taken by us 4 years ago. We do not use stock images or photos of anyone else. (many people on the internet have stolen my photos)

I have been selling on Etsy for 4 years and many of my photos have been stolen by other Sellers on Amazon or other marketplaces. If the automated system/bot/AI mistakes continue to repeat, there will definitely be more and more "false warning" and I'm worried that my shop might be suspended or closed by these mistakes.

The Etsy shop is the only source of income for me and my team. We really always follow Etsy's policies and try our best to bring more value to our Customers. So, this mistake is creating a huge loss for my business right this Christmas season!

Has anyone actually figured out how to prevent this situation from happening again?

I am really scared and desperate about this situation that has been repeated too many times!

[PrairiePrimitives]

You need to provide proof to Etsy of having reported the stolen images to the other web site. In the US, this is done with a DMCA. Not sure about other countries, but if it's not readily apparent on the other site, Google for the site's name and a phrase such as "remove infringing photos" or "remove infringing items" and see if you get any leads about how to report the infringement.

[BeanDaikon]

Thank you so much for your advice! I do provide proof but they took so long in reply support ticket! Whenever my listing reinstall few days, Etsy deactive my listing again because they find my listing in new website.

Maybe I'll do as you recommend, report infringing photos every week!

[PrairiePrimitives]

@BeanDaikon Some shops have to keep reporting image thefts because it happens again and again to them. Good luck!

[CryzalisMasksUK]

"I believe my listing strictly adheres to the "Etsy Creative Standards" with the following information:

- The items are designed and manufactured by BEANDAIKON, meaning they are created by me and my team. We do not resell or redesign them, nor do we source them from others."

I am not going to click on your 1000+ listings, but the handful I did click on are all in the "Made by" category, so all these listings are violating "Etsy Creative Standards"

"Made by" is only for those who make their items from scratch with their own hands and no additional help from other people, factories or companies.

You go onto to list a whole team of people from designers, artist to makers, which means you do not make all your items by your own hands.

If your core details are incorrect, then this falls under violating "Etsy Creative Standards", if you receive too many deactivations, then they will close your shop

[BeanDaikon]

Thank you so much for your opinion! I do make my items with my team, but my friends and family help me a lot to smooth my business, especially in end of year season like now! They supported me a lot so I listed my team in. Can you advice more? Because I don't think my core details are wrong so I'm really confused!

And as I mentioned above, Etsy have removed and reinstalled my listings many times so I think that it's due to my photos were stolen. Etsy removed it last time because they found my photos on Temu. And I do not have many deactivations, just this listing again and again!

Thank you so much for all of your advice, I really appreciate it!

[CryzalisMasksUK]

The core listings are in the details about your listing.

Other sellers have had the same happen to them regarding deactivations and some had their shop closed down.

In the details, you will see several options

It starts with choosing Physical or digital item

below this is "Core details"

Who made it? 

When you click "I did" only you have made the item in your listing, no outside help or sourced. 

As you have a whole team helping you make your items, you need to click

"another company or person"

Then your listings will appear correctly

At the moment every listing I looked at in your shop is "made by" which means that the first option was clicked " I Did"

[AnnaleasFinest]

@BeanDaikon 

I understand you are scared. The stress when this happens is unbelievable, especially when the entire income, and others depend on this shop.

You have already received valuable advice.

Follow the advice. Work on "details".

File take-down notices of all the stolen photos.

In addition to that, as a first, you could:

make a new listing for your bestseller with brandnew photos, and protect the photos with many small watermarks, that overlap the item and background, and use the copyright sign on them.

Perhaps alter the items a little bit.

You can also use a bigger transparent watermark, that covers one corner. It just shouldn't take away from the item's visibility and shouldn't cover too much of it.

At least, you can show to Etsy, that a stolen photo carries your shop name, in case it happens again.  (The thief has no reason to put another shops watermark on their photos, so a theft would be obvious.

Best wishes.

[Amaradorn]

You need to police the theft/use of your own images on the internet. If you find someone else using them without permission then you need to report it to the website they a found on. If Etsy find your images being used on the big mass produced marketplaces such as AliExpress and Temu, they assume you are reselling and will take those listings down. Unfortunately this is a flawed approach as we know that best selling products get copied but that's what Etsy are doing right now.

Relying on Etsy as your only sales channel is very risky. Etsy can shut your shop at any time for any reason and it's very difficult to contact support to appeal. I suggest that, going forwards you should focus on setting up and promoting your own website.

[ModAngie · Accepted solution]

Hello! We're sorry to hear you're experiencing issues with your listing. We've forwarded your concerns to a specialist team. 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.