etsy put my shop on vacation mode

[CaseByCaseCard]

Hello,
I need some help regarding my Etsy shop. Etsy has suddenly put my shop in Vacation Mode without giving me any reason or prior notice. I have always followed the rules, I have verified all my information, and my reviews are all positive.
This situation is very frustrating because I worked hard to build trust with my customers, and now they can't access my shop.

Can someone please explain why this might have happened and what I can do to resolve it? i already tried with appeals and emails but nothing seems to work
I appreciate any support or advice.

Thank you!

[NanaLetha]

It seems pretty obvious - you are breaking the law by selling Pokemon items!

[BagmakerSupply]

@CaseByCaseCard: "I have always followed the rules ..." Did you include YOUR licensing within the listing itself, otherwise it may have been considered a counterfeit and therefore illegal. Also, if you say "Pokèmon phone case" you are implying that the phone case was made by or with the specific approval of the trademark owner. Is that the situation?

[MrsDsHandKnits]

and therein lies the problem>>NO, you are not following Etsy rules and policies...and for those of us who have been here awhile it is obvious why Etsy took the action it did...

[NanaLetha]

https://www.etsy.com/legal/ip/?ref=list

[Holzwirkstatt]

Hello @CaseByCaseCard 
You write: "I've always followed the rules, I've checked all my information."
You haven't followed a single rule.
Your shop lacks all the legal requirements to sell in Europe. General Data Protection Regulation, legal notice, and much more.
But selling illegal items on Etsy was your biggest mistake.
Have you received any mail from Pokémon's legal department yet? If so, the forced vacation is the lesser problem.
Regards, Wolfgang

[PrimFun]

If you have licensing for Pokeman then include it in your shop and let Etsy know.

If you don't then Etsy may be preparing to remove your shop and giving you the opportunity to correct the errors.

No about page.  No shop policies.  These are also red flags to Etsy.

Etsy does not give reasons because they expect all of us to read the TOUs.

[CaseByCaseCard]

for everyone saying that we sell counterfeit items or that we do not have licences: the cards we sell are proxy cards from pokemon pocket, we also wrote it in the title. There are many sellers who also sell this items and are absolutely not counterfeit or resold.

[CatsWhiskersCurios]

You cannot sell Pokemon items. It makes no difference if they are 'proxy' cards, you are still guilty of intellectual property theft. It also makes no difference if others are selling similar - you got caught this time, they may be caught tomorrow.  If Etsy closes your shop you won't be able to open another, so take this as a lesson.

[BagmakerSupply]

@CaseByCaseCard: You may want to discuss this with a qualified intellectual property attorney. Selling the items without a license and calling them a Pokemon item means you are using someone else's trademark without permission for your personal financial enrichment.

[CoquetteBath]

OP, you are asking other sellers for advice, right?

well, you are getting advice. 

To me, as with others, it clearly looks like you are selling illegal counterfeit items. If Pokemon  hasn't approved it, then it is. Doesn't really matter how many other people are doing the same thing: wrong is wrong.

now you can disagree with this. But right now, the best advice you need is this: consult a legal professional who specializes in intellectual property.

because, if you are wrong (and I have some experience that says you really could be...) then the legal bills could be dramatic. Follow the rules.  Stay WAY away from the line. 

my advice, for whatever it is worth to you. Get legal advice. PAID legal advice. Free advice is opinions. But since you are asking...this is what you are being given. For free. 

[CraftyCornishMaids]

If you have a legal licence that you have paid Pokemon for, to sell items using their trademark, then put it on the listing

If you don't have a legal licence - goodbye

........

This is who you should have contacted, and paid to use the word "Pokemom" anywhere in your headings, tags, titles, description, pictures

Trademark Owner(s) name

Nintendo Co., Ltd. 11-1 Hokotate-cho, Kamitoba, Minami-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto, 601-8501, Japan

[MyOverstuffedAttic]

I will never get over how many people do things because 'others' do it. That is not a good practice in any area of our lives.

It looks like you made a LOT of money in a short amount of time by selling illegal items. I would be very frightened about what might happen next. I wish you well and hope nothing further takes place. Everyone has given great, free advice.