How To File An Etsy Copyright Infringement Report

Do you know what to do when someone steals your work? Do you know why and how to file an Etsy copyright infringement report?

Etsy unfortunately has a massive problem with unethical sellers who infringe on copyright materials and trademarks in order to make a quick buck. Thankfully Etsy has an Intellectual Property Policy that allows you to report intellectual property infringement, including copyright, trademark, and patent infringement.

How To File An Etsy Copyright Infringement Report

If you are having an issue with intellectual property infringement this video shows you how to file an Etsy copyright infringement report at https://www.etsy.com/legal/ip/report.

This one Etsy intellectual infringement report covers multiple things. It is the place where you report all of the following:

• Etsy copyright infringement report
• Trademark infringement report
• Counterfeit goods infringement report
• Etsy patent infringement report

Etsy’s Intellectual Property Policy

What exactly does Etsy say about intellectual property theft in their policy?

Etsy says they take intellectual property rights very seriously and comply with intellectual property laws and industry best practices.

Their Intellectual Property Policy explains:

• how Etsy addresses allegations of infringement
• where authorized parties can submit proper notices of infringement for content on Etsy
• how Etsy sellers can respond when their listings or shops are affected by a notice

Here is a snippet from their policy that sums up Etsy’s position:

Sellers are responsible for ensuring they have all necessary rights to their content and that they are not infringing or violating any third party’s rights by posting it.

Etsy reserves the right to disable any listing, shop, or account that we believe violates our Terms of Use, including this Intellectual Property Policy or our Prohibited Items Policy. Etsy also reserves the right to take action against abusers of Etsy’s Intellectual Property Policy or our Terms of Use.

They also clearly say what happens to repeat infringement shops:

Etsy terminates selling privileges of members who are subject to repeat or multiple notices of intellectual property infringement in appropriate circumstances and at Etsy’s discretion. If we believe a member has attempted to open a new shop after termination of the initial account, we reserve the right to refuse all services to that member. 

This is one reason why you should report intellectual property infringement when it happens to you.

You can find more information about intellectual property rights on Etsy and read their full intellectual property policy here.

What Happens After Filing An Etsy Infringement Report

If you’ve filed your claim of intellectual property infringement via Etsy’s form it will be processed by Etsy.

They will then decide based on their policy if the content needs to be removed. If this occurs they will contact you and the shop with the content being removed.

For reports of copyright infringement the seller you have reported has the option to file a DCMA counter notice. If you are unaware of that and what it means you can read Etsy’s DMCA counter notice policy.

When a seller files a counter notice the best option is to then either work it out with the other shop, talk to an attorney, or let it go. If the counter notice complies with Etsy’s policies and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act they will not take action because they do not make legal determinations on infringement allegations.

Can You Report Competitors?

Many people get concerned that their competitors will unfairly use this infringement form to report their shops and get them shut down.

However, Etsy does not allow this.

Etsy does not accept notices of infringement from anyone – just the intellectual property owner or their authorized agent. They require people filling out the form are doing so in good faith and if they are not then there can be costly penalties and other consequences.

Etsy also doesn’t pick and choose which items to take down for infringement. They don’t single out sellers despite what many might complain about online. They simple contact sellers when an infringement issue is reported and follow their policies and best practices from there.

Still Need Etsy Help?

If you’ve read through all the policies and steps on filing an infringement report but still need help then you can contact Etsy.

While Etsy does not offer a phone number for you to call upfront they do give you a form to fill out here. This form creates a ticket and will help connect you to the right support team. From there you may communicate via chat, phone, or email depending on their availability and your questions.

Contacting Etsy support can be challenging at times during their busier seasons. Plan ahead and don’t expect an instant connection with someone to help you.

Tips For Selling On Etsy

Don’t let the fear of intellectual property infringement stop you from building an income stream on Etsy.

Selling on Etsy can be life-changing. It has created steady passive income for me each month that pays for multiple bills. The potential of selling on Etsy is truly amazing.

You can learn more about selling on Etsy with these tips and tutorials:

• How To Start An Etsy Shop
• How To Get Sales on Etsy
• Ways To Get Reviews On Etsy
• Do You Need A Business License For Etsy?
• What I Wish I Knew Before Starting An Etsy Shop
• How to Make & Sell Printables on Etsy
• 63 Digital Product Ideas To Sell On Etsy
• How To Make A Coupon Code On Etsy
• How To Get Sales On Etsy

These guides to selling successfully on Etsy will get you moving in the right direction. We love to see sellers succeed on Etsy!