How to Report Stolen Designs on Etsy
Etsy is built on original, handmade work, which makes it a prime target for copycats who lift product photos, re-upload artwork, and clone entire listings. Etsy accepts DMCA takedown notices through its Reporting Portal, and its Intellectual Property Policy commits the company to removing infringing material and closing repeat offenders' shops.
Before you start
- Proof of ownership, a link to your original listing, portfolio, or website showing the design existed first, plus original files if you have them.
- The URL of every infringing listing. Etsy acts on the exact links you provide, so copy each one from your browser.
- Your contact details, full name, address, and a monitored email. Etsy shares your notice, including contact information, with the reported seller.
- Confirmation that you are the rights owner or an authorized agent filing on the owner's behalf.
Step 1: Open the Etsy Reporting Portal
Go to https://www.etsy.com/ipreporting and sign in. The portal is Etsy's main channel for reporting infringement in shop listings and routes your notice to Etsy's designated DMCA agent. If the infringement is in a username, shop name, or video rather than a listing, use the separate form linked from Etsy's Intellectual Property Policy at etsy.com/legal/ip.
Step 2: Identify yourself and your rights
Tell Etsy whether you are the creator or an authorized representative, and specify the type of right, for stolen artwork, photos, or product designs, that is copyright. Agents should be ready to show authorization from the owner.
Step 3: Describe your original work
Point Etsy to where your original lives: your Etsy listing, your website, or a portfolio page, with dates if possible. If the copycat edited your design, mirrored the image, changed colors, cropped your watermark, say so, because it helps the reviewer connect the copy to your original.
Step 4: List every infringing listing URL
Paste the full URL of each infringing listing. Don't summarize with "this whole shop copies me", Etsy removes what you cite, so every stolen listing needs its own line.
Step 5: Sign the statements and submit
Complete the standard DMCA declarations: a good-faith belief that the use is unauthorized, that your information is accurate, and, under penalty of perjury, that you are the owner or authorized to act for them. Type your full name as your electronic signature and submit. Keep the confirmation email.
What happens after you file
Etsy's team reviews the notice, removes listings it finds infringing, and notifies the seller, who receives a copy of your report. The seller can respond with a counter-notice; if that happens, Etsy may restore the listing after roughly 10 to 14 business days unless you show you've filed a court action. Shops that accumulate repeated valid complaints can be suspended or closed under Etsy's repeat infringer policy.
Copycats on Etsy tend to reappear under new shop names, so keep monitoring after your first takedown. If you'd rather not spend your working hours policing marketplaces, Rulta is a done-for-you takedown service whose team finds stolen listings, files the notices, and follows up until they come down.
This guide is educational information, not legal advice.
Need the notice text?Generate a complete DMCA notice for Etsy — free, one minute
Exhibit A — official takedown formhttps://www.etsy.com/ipreporting
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an Etsy account to report infringement?
You can file without a shop, but the Etsy Reporting Portal asks you to create or sign in to an account so it can track your reports and send you status updates.
How long does Etsy take to remove a stolen listing?
Most valid reports are processed within a few business days. Etsy emails you when the listing is removed or if the team needs more information.
Can I report an entire shop instead of individual listings?
Etsy reviews the specific listings you cite, so list every infringing URL. If a shop name or username itself infringes your rights, Etsy has a separate form for that at etsy.com/legal/ip/report.
What if the seller files a counter-notice?
Etsy forwards the counter-notice to you. The listing may be restored in roughly 10 to 14 business days unless you notify Etsy that you have filed a court action.
Does my design need to be registered with the Copyright Office?
No. Copyright exists automatically when you create an original work. Registration strengthens your position if the dispute escalates, but it is not required to file a takedown.