How to stop Etsy listings being removed for trade mark infringement

Why listings get removed

Rights owners search marketplaces for their names and report listings that use them. Etsy removes listings it accepts as infringing and tells the seller. Repeat reports can put your whole shop at risk, so one risky tag can cost more than the sale it was meant to win.

The words that cause problems

• Brand names used as descriptors: 'X style', 'X dupe', 'inspired by X', 'X alternative'.
• Brand names in tags to catch searches, even if they're not in the title.
• Trade-marked terms that sound generic but aren't, including some colour and style trend names built on brands.
• Characters, franchises, song lyrics and catchphrases without a licence.
• Real people's names and likenesses.

What to write instead

Describe the product itself: what it's made of, its size and capacity, colour, finish, and who or what it's for. Shoppers search like that too. '40oz insulated tumbler with handle, hot pink' finds buyers without borrowing anyone's name.

If a listing has already been removed

• Read Etsy's notice to see which right and which owner were cited.
• Remove the term from that listing and from any similar listings in your shop.
• If you believe the report was wrong, check Etsy's guidance on responding; for copyright reports there's a counter notice process.
• Keep a note of what was reported so you avoid it in future listings.

A quick check before you publish

• Read your title aloud: does it name any brand, character, film, band or person you don't own?
• Scan your tags for the same, including misspellings people search for.
• Look at your photos: logos, characters or copied artwork in the product or background?
• Check trend words: some style names are built on brands.
• Replace anything risky with what the product actually is, and keep a note of the change.

How Infringement Ninja helps

Infringement Ninja's listing check reads your title, tags, description and photo, or a link to the listing, and flags the words and images that could get it removed, who likely owns them, and a safer title and tags. It costs one credit, and new accounts get three to try it.