More stolen titles and product descriptions

[Lea]

I'm really tired of stumbling across listings that have stolen my product descriptions. Word for word. Even if it doesn't really match the product (sometimes it does - sometimes it's clear they were heavily inspired by my design too).

What can we do? Zazzle, what's our best course of action here to prevent this? And what are you doing to deter it? If I can point out a creator that has multiple listings with my description will you pull those products? Warn a creator they're at risk of being shut down? There are a couple I've flagged multiple times and never heard back. One was at least edited (probably after they saw my comment here 👋).

It's beyond frustrating that other shops think they can help themselves to our original work AND words (I know I'm not alone here -  they're pulling from other creators too). And the onus shouldn't be on us to file a DMCA notice every time we spot it.

[ChristineK]

I just wanted to add that I share your frustration, and for whatever reason this seems to be getting more and more common. I reported one recently that another creator was kind enough to alert me to, and now after doing another search I'm finding a completely different designer who has copied my exact product title and description, word for word. It's also a copy of my design, although I realize that because it's a text-based design there is nothing I can do about the design itself. But when they basically copy and paste my product descriptions, it's pretty obvious that they're copying and yet I'm not sure what else (if anything) I can do.

[Lea]

I’m fired up today because I went to tag a product on Instagram and in the search my product didn’t come up but the rip-off did. It’s poorly done so I don’t think it could be flagged and removed for IP theft of the design, but the title is the same, the description - even the family name is the same! I worry if I deal directly with some of the unethical shop owners that I’ll just make myself a bigger target too. Especially if they know there’s no consequence from Zazzle. I feel like I’m already doing that just posting here. 

[Malissa]

I have definitely seen a rise in the "borrowing" of information over the year and it seemed to get worse over the last few months.  I got an influx of people following me over the spring and summer, but the weird thing is that some of these followers still have the nerve to copy info.  One shop copied my exact about me only changing my name and art style out to theirs.  One took most of my t-shirts out of my t-shirt collection and copied the exact title and collection description.  And that shop owner also used some other collections that I recognized from other shop owners.  I did message her and ask her to use her own title and description because I welcome them promoting my products, but it wasn't best practice to copy the info.  They deleted the whole collection or made it private.  Plus various misc. other little things.  Obviously when you get editors picks and other recognition, it is a double edged sword.  It opens you up to being copied because they think you must be making money off of the feature, but the joke is on them copying my tags and titles because I still don't get that many sales😂

[ievajen]

I saw today on youtube video and it's sort of software that picks and sorts out zazzle tags, subject etc and shows most successful sellers, tags and so on; they say like don't copy, but some people obviously copy

[Lea]

Wow. I mean, I kind of assumed there was some sort of code or shortcut (it seemed too tedious to go one by one and copy paste) but to just have an instructional video? Wow. I think that’s all the more reason Zazzle needs to take a firm stance and if it’s found a shop has multiple instances of this they are shut down. Original work needs to be protected. 

[KittyValentine]

I feel like it's getting worse every week with copycats, I just found a store who copied some of my monogram designs (including the fonts and hex codes I used) plus the title and description. When I looked at the store I saw several designs that were clearly copied from other (big) stores because I recognized the design themes. I wish Zazzle would have a department or someone who takes care of that, looking into suspicious stores that tend to copy designs or titles and tags.

[Lea]

So about the time I posted this, I started putting my name in my tags and now there are several other designs coming up with my name. I'm really at a loss of what to do. Some of the designs look like my work and are clearly copied, but some are just mining the tags for a completely unrelated cards. I know it's a busy time for Zazzle, but the shady people know that and are thieving hard to capitalize on the biggest selling time of the year. I really really wish Zazzle would step up to protect original work.

[Malissa]

It amazes me that our names get copied.  It just shows the complete lack of ethics and even attention to detail.  They are not even paying attention to the words they are using at all.  Sorry Lea.   I think putting your name in your tags is the best way going forward even if it feels like a waste of a good tag.

The items with my name in the tags were removed in a timely manner with no DCMA or issues at all.  Some of the others with my meta data copied are still floating around, but at least some are gone.  Maybe at least those will be easy for you to get taken down now that your name is in it.  I am going to be working on adding my name to all of my products in the coming months, but right now I am mostly in vacation mode. 

[Lea]

Enjoy vacation mode, Malissa!

And actually the name in the tag could prove to be somewhat helpful - for sales to family and friends at least. My mom told me she searched my name and very little came up. So it's probably a handier way for people to find my stuff (and some random unethical others!).