Temu stole my photos. Etsy thinks I'm reselling things that I make!!!

[Forkwhisperer]

• Unbelievable! First I get items removed for things I make by hand. I'm confused and I can't reach Trust And Safety. Now I realize that Temu has stolen my photos to sell junk metal versions of what I make in sterling silver ! Etsy must think I'm buying and selling what I make from Temu! I've been selling these items on Etsy before there was a Temu. That's my kid modeling in my photos!Ughh! Help!!!

[AnniebelloPaper]

Probably not completely relevant but your about page says 'We are a collective of artists ...' 

It goes on to say 'Romerio is our Artisan Jeweler & Curator of the direction of the store. Tasneem is our Photographer, inventory manager & customer service agent, and Cazembe is our in-house bench Jeweler.

A collective of artists isn't two (you only mention two). None of these people are correctly identified as shop members. If Etsy is being picky, you need to clarify who's making your pieces.

I would suggest placing a business card or physical sign in every photo. Anyone can add a watermark but having something with the item in real life might deter this. Also having a video of production in your about page instead of still (collaged) images.

[After9Marbles]

I had this issue at one point and I hated doing it but I watermarked those images. Unfortunately they were already stolen. Luckily I didnt get the AI etsy bot. Honestly to fix the issue I stopped taking perfect photos and making sure the backgrounds were completely white to help with searches and people stealing them. Not my photos have a bit of the armature look and I havent had any websites steal them since. 

It was bad timing but I cant make out if the change in photos led to my decrease in traffic on Etsy or its just Etsy. Either way I dont want people stealing my photos to sell subpar items that people think are my work.  

[AAANativeArts]

You need to contact Temu on a DCMA legal form to get those pictures removed. If it is a problem for you, I would watermark them where it is hard to remove. They will still probably steal your images, but at least you will have proof for Etsy that they are your photos. Most people on places like Temu  won't even bother to remove a watermark, they will just use them as is.

[BeachberriesShop]

Welcome to the bot system that Etsy uses.

This has happened to us many times, we have been selling our bracelets on Etsy since 2018 and now our ideas are being copied in China.

Now we have to prove that we make these ourselves.

This is the upside down world of how Etsy treats us.

I have sent several emails about this and have always received a copy and paste response.

Pictures of our materials sent no response.

If Etsy finds this, it would be good if we were contacted about it.

Without this being determined by bots because ours finds stolen photos that have been found.

We have the original photos as proof that have not been edited.

Etsy is not interested.

We have been paying 6.5% in commission for some time now, instead of 5% that would go towards improving customer service. Instead, employees are laid off to save costs.

It's clear that Etsy only wants to make the shareholder happy.

We are not important we are replaceable.

[CottageintheCove]

Etsy will pay attention when these copycats poison etsy customers with lead loaded toxic materials. Research people getting sick from shein and temu crap.

[OlivetCo]

The same thing happened to me today. I had a listing removed. It did not violate any of Etsy’s policy’s. I have been selling on Etsy for years now with no issues. As I looked into it I saw that Temu has been using my photos…with me in them!!!! So an AI boy must have been what flagged me and shut that link down. Etsy is dodging my every email and chat. I have brought in thousands of dollars for Etsy and they are not doing their job to make things right. So sad. 

[CottageintheCove]

I would seek legal representation to see what recourse you have against temu and start tagging all your photos.

[CottageintheCove]

Read this Time article from Jan 6 2024, Designers are complaining temu and shein copying their work. You can contact temu any site using your photos and have them removed. 

 

[OlivetCo]

Update. After being passed to 4 people at Etsy support they reinstated my listing. So thankful. 

[Atrio]

Did you find a resolution?

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