Copycat

[Paula]

I noticed that a person on Etsy (Mariah) has copied my invitation designs and is selling them as their own. I also recognised my sister's had been copied too! Im pretty sure most of her invitations have been copied, so I thought I would post on here for other designers to check. https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/CGBPaperie?ref=profile_header I have asked her to remove them from her store but she is slow to respond. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[LMGildersleeve]

There is a "Report This Shop To Etsy" on the left hand side of the linked page. Why not start there?

[kimmpossible]

Once you hit the "report this shop to etsy" button, it comes up with a series of reasons to choose from. Copying work is not one of them. They do have a copyright option, but you have to have an item licensed to do anything about it. 

[Marblewave]

Hi kimmpossible

From what I understand, if you create an artistic work in the US you are automatically the copyright holder https://www.copyright.gov/engage/visual-artists/

Where does it say you have to have an item licensed for Etsy to take action? I can't see it in Etsy's terms but maybe I missed it. I can that Etsy say they may require evidence, but wouldn't this just be a link to your Zazzle product page, which shows the date you made it, from before the Etsy seller put the copy up?

[kimmpossible]

Unfortunately, unless you are the creator of the clipart and fonts on the invitation, people are allowed to copy your designs. I have had this happen to me many times over the past 12 years. Zazzle has taken down a couple items I have complained about, but if they are slightly different, there really isn't anything legal you can do about it, at least that I know of. Almost all of my top selling items on Etsy and Zazzle have been copied to some extent. Not always the exact same design, like this case, but very similar. It drives me crazy because of the amount of time I put into each design, but at the same time, I can't do anything about it, so I try to move on.

Most copycats know they can get away with this. I have had a seller here on Zazzle create very similar items to mine and I asked her remove them or make them different and she told me she knows from experience there isn't anything I can do. She then attempted to report me for fonts I was using correctly! Very frustrating.

[karab]

You can file a DMCA report on Etsy to have them take the listings down. Only the copyright holder/designer can file a DMCA so you should get your sister to do it, too. If Etsy gets enough reports they'll remove the shop completely.

[Jermolinaart]

She copied my design as well. I messaged her, and she removed it immediately.

[kimmpossible]

Came here to post this! She has many Zazzle designs copied. Maybe her whole shop is copies. I have been notifying other designers. She had four of my exact designs! Ughhh.

[NigelSutherland]

I don't understand how she can copy from here, sell as downloads, but have them as being "editable". Clearly copied designs are useless with the original wording included.

[Badeesie]

I think I saw somebody say that the purchaser of a digital download is able to edit and redownload their purchase. So maybe she buys each design once, makes the edits specified by her customer, and then sells that edited download?

[Anne]

@Badeesie Yes, I read that too. Utterly horrible. I think this should be disabled or at least enable the designer to disable that option.

[NigelSutherland]

Ah that makes sense. Thank you for the explanation. Ingenious but devious and utterly contemptible!

[DesignsByElina]

I messaged her on Etsy, and my design was removed after few minutes. I also reported her store, but I'm not sure if it will change anything. I do hope if more people report the shop, it might be taken down.

[SaraO]

 I can't see the shop, does that mean it has been taken down. The link on the first post goes to an 'oops page'

[karab]

Yep, that’s the closed shop message. But i think that’s the one that they show when the seller has closed the shop, so she might appear again under another name. If Etsy closed the shop they show a different message.