Stolen Design ON Zazzle

[gatordesign]

I sell a number of designs on other well-known POD platforms, I've had a Zazzle account for a while but haven't had time to get set up and start selling here yet. Today I found someone selling one of MY designs from those other platforms right here on Zazzle. Of course I reported it right away, but how long does it take for Zazzle to address things like this? I provided links in my report but I don't have any experience with designer support here -- will they blow me off and let this person sell stolen art on here? He or she is undoubtedly stealing other people's work too. 

[idraw]

@gatordesign 
You didn’t say whether you reported the violation to the Copyright Agent   copyright @@zazzle.com
That is the department email. I can confirm that the Zazzle copyright agent will definitely help you.
https://help.zazzle.com/hc/en-us/articles/220337367-Zazzle-Copyright-Policy

To assist Zazzle in protecting the intellectual property rights of others, Zazzle has appointed a Copyright Agent, who may be reached at:

from that page—
By mail:
Copyright Agent
c/o Zazzle Inc.
811 Sandhill Road
Reno, NV 89521​
By phone: 650.872.8000
By fax: 650.872.7000
By email: copyright@zazzle.com

[gatordesign]

Thank you, as I literally just made this discovery I only just now sent the email to the copyright agent. But my question was, how long does it take for them to address these things? 

[idraw]

You could call the above number, but only m-f, and they may still be in Nv, or you may get Cork,Ireland. Either way, probably wait till midday, when they will be open. If you already have a case number, have it ready just in case. Also your user name and email for them to locate you.

[CreativeLeahG · Accepted solution]

I also had a design of mine stolen and published on Zazzle, I reported it BUT I also sent a take down notice the store owner. It took about 2 days for it to disappear from feed.

[gatordesign]

Thank you, that's reassuring. Did Zazzle take it down or did the thief just voluntarily remove it? I'm a little gunshy about having direct contact since people can react in, well, unpredictable ways.

[chefcateringbiz]

Thieves in general are cowards; they operate until they get caught, then try to slink away when confronted. Holding their ground limits their ability to move on to the next caper, as it were. Copyright thieves, however, may just be downright ignorant rather than devious. Can't tell you how many people have come to me with images/clip art thinking that just because it's on the internet it must be free for the taking. I wouldn't worry about having direct contact.

[kennethwfd]

And I suspect few if any had checked the licence to see whether it may be used commercially or for personal use only

[idraw]

Let zazzle copyright handle it, they will let you know what they need from you in order to proceed.

[CreativeLeahG]

One thief apologized and deleted herself, in the more recent instance, neither responded to my direct message and Zazzle took them down.

[gatordesign]

I took your suggestion and sent a notice to the store owner after emailing the Copyright Agent on Sunday. Neither of them ever sent me a response, but I was checking every day and today the design is gone from the thief's store. Hopefully other creators will notice if he's ganked any of their designs.

[Zob1]

I have a design on Zazzle (completely original, drawn by me), which was stolen and posted by another creator on Zazzle, who then reported me as the thief, and 80 of my products were removed. Unfortunately my Zazzle designing had taken a back seat, and I didn't see the takedown email for 3 months.

I sent Zazzle what I consider to be a thorough document, with multiple proofs: dated blog posts, dated Zazzle product posts, images of the source file (with separate layers I could edit/hide etc), an explanation of the design which related to an event at the time, the matching drawing style/theme with my other designs on Zazzle, and how the thief had failed to keep that style consistent in their attempts to change it. The Zazzle team were apologetic, and my products were restored.

However, the person who did this to me, continues to sell here on the platform. I think what that person did was despicable, and still can't quite believe there were no consequences for them.