Remove or Flag Exact Copies of An Artwork or Design

[ameliacarrie]

Perhaps you could flag subsequent designs that are the exact copies.  Telling a store owner, sorry you cannot use that image because it is on "Example Store", please contact the store owner to get permission.  I see a LOT of my designs posted on different peoples stores. I think that's why I make about 1/2 of what I used to make a few years ago. For example, when you type in Santa Cruz Surf Tees you get a Zazzle image.  The first two are mine. But, I hardly ever make a sale. There are many stores selling the designs. And, some of them are displayed before mine.  I think it's why some of the hardest working, long time designers are seeing their sales decline.   Many times I will search something and see the same design again and again from different stores.  I feel that addressing this issue will not only help store owners, but, help eliminate the lack of creativity in the marketplace during searches.  It will also improve the quality as a copy most likely has less pixels than the original. Further, when people go to message a design thief about one of our designs, they are talking to scammers which is worrisome.

Below are a couple more examples of designs I've made that are for sale in other people's stores.  As you can see, these type of designs are not just text and a few elements changed around. They have to be copied and then reposted. I think an AI computer could recognize the copies and make determinations based on date used. In the event of clipart which some people purchase, perhaps train the AI not to flag it if it's arranged with different wording, sizes, elements, keywords, etc.. 

Hmmm..... I also realize some people may post certain images elsewhere first, and someone might copy them and post them on Zazzle first.  Then, they would be the first person to post? Whoops. I say this because I just realized I had posted these images on Amazon before posting them on Zazzle. In these instances as store owners we need to be careful to post on Zazzle the same day. If not, then we should still be able to use the "Flag Listing" feature in addition to the "Prior Use on These Stores" notice.

[PenguinPower]

I'm not sure I'm following... Do you own the copyright? If you do by all means flag those stores. If you don't  - if it's stock art or something that is public domain you don't get exclusive use of it on Zazzle just because you posted it first... 

[CreativeLeahG]

The images you posted are not at all copies so I am also confused?

Also there are santa cruz surf the sand ride the wave tees available from numerous stores all over the web so these phrases are also not unique?

[ameliacarrie]

Penquin Power - Yes, I own the copyright as I am the original artist.  
Creative Leah - Copyright infringement occurs when copying, sharing, or other use of artwork work without the owner's permission. When you refer to words that is "trademark".  

[Jadendreamer13]

I am confused, too. In the little bubble graphics you posted, I don’t see any copies of your work. If you created a graphic using clip art (don’t know if you did) without making any changes, then any creator can use the same graphic.

[ColsCreations]

I did what you suggested and searched Zazzle for [Santa Cruz Surf Tees]. 476 results. I did a quick scroll of all eight pages and only spotted a couple of designs that looked visually similar enough to yours to be questionable.

However, if you are saying that the 'splash for cash' design and the one in your post that looks like a license plate are 100% your original creations and not adapted from a stock site, then there is one account that is clearly lifting your designs and publishing them on various products.

If that's the case, you need to report them to Zazzle if you haven't already.
It stinks to have a design idea copied but that's a gray area and it seems many with top-sellers experience it. If someone is actually stealing your work though, that's another story and they need be taken down.

[PenguinPower]

Your original post is still confusing... you talk about people posting them to Zazzle "first"... If the artwork is truly yours, there is no  "first",  there is only copyright infringement - it doesn't matter at all if the person scraped the stolen artwork from a different site.  You should report the offenders...  There's a link near the bottom of each page to "report this design" 

[Connie]

There is no way AI can fairly determine if something is a copyright infringement. Many designers get graphics from the same legitimate sources, and the AI would end up flagging too many innocent designs. Designers already have enough trouble with getting their products deleted mistakenly for copyright or trademark infringement.

It is your responsibility, if you see someone copying your actual designs, to report them to Zazzle. Zazzle can't legally make the determination of who has the copyright, just because they see similar designs.

[ameliacarrie]

Penguin Power - Yes, even though I did not post some of them here yet.  They are my copyrighted art.
Bonnie - You are right.  It's up to all of us to catch and report stuff. Im just trying to think of a way to make that easier for artists to protect their designs.
Cols Creations - Yes. That design is mine.  And, I've seen it on a few other peoples stores. I made it in several "popping colors". Heres where I sell it:  
https://www.zazzle.com/santa_cruz_california_t_shirt-235573181690657969