My listings are being removed for 'Violating Etsy's Creativity Policy', but I am the original artist

[annadrawsstuff]

I've been selling on Etsy for over 5 years, and in the last two weeks I've suddenly been hit with two listings being deactivated through Etsy's automated system. The last one was yesterday, which took down my bestseller of all time.

I've always had my production partners listed (where applicable), and the art and designs are my own. These were well established listings, with glowing reviews.

The best I've been able to guess through customer support, is that these items are deemed as 'not handmade' or designed by me. I assume this is because my work often gets stolen by sites like aliexpress, temu, shein and alibaba. I try my best to keep on top of this, but if sellers are going to be punished for being stolen from it's going to be impossible to actually sell here anymore.

I've reached out to customer support with proof, showing everything from unedited pictures, the original design files, the dates I debuted the designs online, actual footage of me making the items - nothing helped. I got generalized answers, and no actual insight on how to appeal.

The issue is that I can't even tell what I'm doing wrong, because it's impossible to get feedback - the shop support chat even admitted they can't see what the exact issue is on my second listing.

 I'm convinced these listings have been taken down in error, and I just got an email threatening account suspension if it happens again. I just want someone to look at this and tell me what I can do.

I am already losing out on income with my best selling listing being down, and I'm terrified that my whole shop might be next.

[PureCaratUSA]

just go to temu aliexpress and report that images and after it removed share it with etsy

[annadrawsstuff]

I keep track of this already, but my work gets stolen often enough that it is going to be impossible to keep it from happening again. 

And if that's the only reason, they'd be punishing us when it's our own items getting stolen - talk about a rotten deal.

[OmasFabricStash]

It can be a pain and take time but I think filing a DMCA on each item from the shops is the best way to go. Your photos belong to you and are not for anyone that wants one to just take. 

[annadrawsstuff]

I absolutely agree, and I do this whenever stolen art or photos of mine pop up!

If this is going to be Etsy's policy, though, they'd be punishing sellers for situations out of their control.

I've encountered websites with my stolen work where they haven't cooperated with DMCA's. They also constantly change up their keywords, photos used (I've had customer review pictures from Etsy stolen for these listings before) and much more.

Even now, going through Aliexpress' official IPR platform, the form is bugging out on two of the stolen listings I'm trying to report, so I've had to send an email and just have to hope they reply.

Etsy should not be punishing legitimate sellers for factors outside of their control, and unfortunately our items being stolen is very much outside of our control. Putting an appeals process (with an actual human reviewing the case) on these deactivations would be a huge help.

[annadrawsstuff]

I had contact with customer support again this morning, and they send me to the same three generic policy links again. No information on how to appeal, and nobody can tell me how to actually get my listing appealed or even what I did wrong. It's like talking to a brick wall.

[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. 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.