Author Topic: Crazy number of thieves at Etsy (Read 24352 times)

Uncle Pete · « **Reply #50 on:** June 14, 2021, 05:50 »

Quote from: leremy on June 10, 2021, 21:19

Quote from: Uncle Pete on June 10, 2021, 14:49
So back to my question. How do I find these people on Etsy, do I have to go through every listing?

Etsy marketplace is not flooded like stock agencies. Usually a simple keyword only have a few pages of listings. So, for my case, I try to search for the keyword of my bestseller and browse through the listings.

Thanks, I may try later. Generally my work isn't attractive enough to steal.

For the rest of this, we have a lost in the translation thread where it's not a conversation at all, the answers are ignoring the original points, even when quoted. I'm giving up.

Zero Talent · « **Reply #51 on:** June 14, 2021, 08:40 »

Here is the reply from another honest thief:

My name is xxxx, I'm writing you regarding the Notice of Intellectual Property Infringement that I received from Etsy from you. I'm really sorry for this situation as I never know that I can't use those photos for my prints and you need to know that I never wanted to cheat anyone or fraud! I really cherish my shop reputation and I wanted to know if there is an opportunity to cooperate with you? Could you please clarify, how much will cost the distribution rights for your photos?

Bottom line: it works! For now, Etsy is free from all my stolen photos.

Zero Talent · « **Reply #52 on:** June 14, 2021, 14:51 »

... and another one:

My License is really not extended commercial.
I really can't use photography for production.

Please accept my apologies.

You can write to me directly if you notice a violation on my part and I will remove the photos immediately! Since I'm not the only one working with the store, I also have design mockups. Although this is my responsibility!
The photos you complained about will never be uploaded again!

Thanks for your patience and understanding.

leremy · « **Reply #53 on:** June 14, 2021, 22:41 »

I saw many people use my artworks in their merchandise products (stickers, mugs, scratch cards, etc) at Etsy. And I wrote to them to check if they have an Extended License for them.

All of them do not have Extended License. Some of them thought they have it, but they actually bought the wrong license. The honest and good will then proceed to buy the Extended License from me... usually they will buy even more artworks (Extended License) than the existing one. The lousy one will just remove the listing. The worst one will pretend they didn't do anything wrong and dare me to report (which I did).

Is all good. Is not as complicated as you thought it might be. All of this translate to instant reward.

Zero Talent · « **Reply #54 on:** June 14, 2021, 23:16 »

Quote from: leremy on June 14, 2021, 22:41

I saw many people use my artworks in their merchandise products (stickers, mugs, scratch cards, etc) at Etsy. And I wrote to them to check if they have an Extended License for them.

All of them do not have Extended License. Some of them thought they have it, but they actually bought the wrong license. The honest and good will then proceed to buy the Extended License from me... usually they will buy even more artworks (Extended License) than the existing one. The lousy one will just remove the listing. The worst one will pretend they didn't do anything wrong and dare me to report (which I did).

Is all good. Is not as complicated as you thought it might be. All of this translate to instant reward.

What do you do if some guy shamelessly claims that he made my photo 32 years ago? LOL. He refused to share a higher rez photo where the identical details would have been even more obvious, like cloud patterns in the sky, etc. He countered my DMCA report.

Etsy says that if I don't follow with a legal action they will re-instate that listing after 10 days.
I wrote them back saying that I'm 100% certain that the photo is mine, asking them to not re-instate it.

Any such experiences? I thinking about filing a claim with Copytrack, if Etsy doesn't listen.

changingsky · « **Reply #55 on:** June 14, 2021, 23:35 »

Quote from: MatHayward on June 07, 2021, 18:06

Quote from: Zero Talent on June 07, 2021, 17:36
Maybe @MatHayward can clarify the Extended License is grating Etsy sellers the right to sell prints.

Please refer to the license details page here for allowable use with an Extended license: https://stock.adobe.com/license-terms#extendedLicenses

thank you,

Mat

What is this? Why Adobe forced to use a language which they want? Why i cannot use English? Please stop with this stupid policy, let people select languages which they need! Why i was redirected to your russian site? No button to change the language. If i am chinese i cannot use English? Edit: quick fix for this - use another browser.
Matt, this is not good - if something doesn't work, there is no normal way to change the language. Should be an old style dropdown list. It is not first time happening at Adobe. Accidental cookies, maybe but this is not an excuse for such policy.

Justanotherphotographer · « **Reply #56 on:** June 15, 2021, 03:15 »

Quote from: Zero Talent on June 14, 2021, 23:16

What do you do if some guy shamelessly claims that he made my photo 32 years ago? LOL. He refused to share a higher rez photo where the identical details would have been even more obvious, like cloud patterns in the sky, etc. He countered my DMCA report.

Etsy says that if I don't follow with a legal action they will re-instate that listing after 10 days.
I wrote them back saying that I'm 100% certain that the photo is mine, asking them to not re-instate it.

Any such experiences? I thinking about filing a claim with Copytrack, if Etsy doesn't listen.

It is very frustrating. Some Etsy sellers have found out they can just dispute the DMCA. It really isn't practical to take them to court. What does work though is to let other people know about the infringing shop and get as many copyright holders to complain about their work as possible. Etsy will eventually take down the whole store regardless.

leremy · « **Reply #57 on:** June 15, 2021, 07:45 »

Quote from: Justanotherphotographer on June 15, 2021, 03:15

Quote from: Zero Talent on June 14, 2021, 23:16

What do you do if some guy shamelessly claims that he made my photo 32 years ago? LOL. He refused to share a higher rez photo where the identical details would have been even more obvious, like cloud patterns in the sky, etc. He countered my DMCA report.

Etsy says that if I don't follow with a legal action they will re-instate that listing after 10 days.
I wrote them back saying that I'm 100% certain that the photo is mine, asking them to not re-instate it.

Any such experiences? I thinking about filing a claim with Copytrack, if Etsy doesn't listen.

It is very frustrating. Some Etsy sellers have found out they can just dispute the DMCA. It really isn't practical to take them to court. What does work though is to let other people know about the infringing shop and get as many copyright holders to complain about their work as possible. Etsy will eventually take down the whole store regardless.

Yep, hence we all need to be a little pro-active in this endeavor. If good men like us didn't do anything, then this kind of behavior will spread like a pandemic.

Uncle Pete · « **Reply #58 on:** June 15, 2021, 09:42 »

Quote from: leremy on June 15, 2021, 07:45

Quote from: Justanotherphotographer on June 15, 2021, 03:15
Quote from: Zero Talent on June 14, 2021, 23:16

What do you do if some guy shamelessly claims that he made my photo 32 years ago? LOL. He refused to share a higher rez photo where the identical details would have been even more obvious, like cloud patterns in the sky, etc. He countered my DMCA report.

Etsy says that if I don't follow with a legal action they will re-instate that listing after 10 days.
I wrote them back saying that I'm 100% certain that the photo is mine, asking them to not re-instate it.

Any such experiences? I thinking about filing a claim with Copytrack, if Etsy doesn't listen.

It is very frustrating. Some Etsy sellers have found out they can just dispute the DMCA. It really isn't practical to take them to court. What does work though is to let other people know about the infringing shop and get as many copyright holders to complain about their work as possible. Etsy will eventually take down the whole store regardless.

Yep, hence we all need to be a little pro-active in this endeavor. If good men like us didn't do anything, then this kind of behavior will spread like a pandemic.

Good advise from all, report, report. I'm enjoying the honest thief quotes. I really think many of these people just don't have any idea of the laws or artists rights. I mean the ones beyond those that do and are just ignoring the laws, while they can make some money.

Stocksaurus · « **Reply #59 on:** June 16, 2021, 07:16 »

Quote from: leremy on June 15, 2021, 07:45

Yep, hence we all need to be a little pro-active in this endeavor. If good men like us didn't do anything, then this kind of behavior will spread like a pandemic.

Oh well, just yesterday i've seen prints/merch of Keith Haring, Wahrol, and Basquiat sold on amazon and other PODs, as low as 5$ for stickers or socks and as high as 300$ for big prints.

Now, there are specialized agencies dealing with licensing of those artists for Merch and i don't think these gangs of dropshippers have paid for it, the Keith Haring Foundation has its own licencing page on their site and they seem to deal only with big brands, same for the Andy Warhol Foundation and many other famous artists represented by art galleries.

If they're not moving a finger about all this, who will ?

Stocksaurus · « **Reply #60 on:** June 16, 2021, 07:23 »

Quote from: Zero Talent on June 14, 2021, 23:16

Any such experiences? I thinking about filing a claim with Copytrack, if Etsy doesn't listen.

Copytrack won't listen as well if the thief is based in a third world country, moreover you probably haven't registered your photos to the US copyright office (copyright.gov), and what about the photo in question, do you own the RAW file or it was just shot as JPG ?

Etsy legally isn't even obliged to give you an answer or to deal too much with all this, the DMCA full covers their as-s, so ...
Their remarks are correct, either you sue the thief or it's none of their business, actually if the thief is selling a lot more than you they could wisely kick YOU out of their platform.

Stocksaurus · « **Reply #61 on:** June 16, 2021, 07:30 »

Quote from: Zero Talent on June 14, 2021, 14:51

... and another one:

My License is really not extended commercial.
I really can't use photography for production.

Please accept my apologies.

You can write to me directly if you notice a violation on my part and I will remove the photos immediately! Since I'm not the only one working with the store, I also have design mockups. Although this is my responsibility!
The photos you complained about will never be uploaded again!

Thanks for your patience and understanding.

I don't think they're honest but if you browse the many t-shirt/merch forums like https://www.t-shirtforums.com/ there's a ton of discussions about "where to find free design for POD/merch" and they seem to really know nothing about licensing and copyright in general, it's a digital wild west, all they know is they bought expensive printers and now they must make money no matter what.

Zero Talent · « **Reply #62 on:** June 16, 2021, 08:48 »

Quote from: Stocksaurus on June 16, 2021, 07:23

Quote from: Zero Talent on June 14, 2021, 23:16
Any such experiences? I thinking about filing a claim with Copytrack, if Etsy doesn't listen.

Copytrack won't listen as well if the thief is based in a third world country, moreover you probably haven't registered your photos to the US copyright office (copyright.gov), and what about the photo in question, do you own the RAW file or it was just shot as JPG ?

Etsy legally isn't even obliged to give you an answer or to deal too much with all this, the DMCA full covers their as-s, so ...
Their remarks are correct, either you sue the thief or it's none of their business, actually if the thief is selling a lot more than you they could wisely kick YOU out of their platform.

Using your language, the seller is from a "first world country" and I have the original RAW images, of course.

Copytrack worked with me and chased some famous photographer who was selling his worldwide photography tours using my photos. While it was very wrong from an ethical point of view, legally he was ok since he purchased licenses from SS. He apologized and blamed his website administrator for the "error".

The other thing I just realized, it that some Etsy sellers are purchasing and reselling Prints made by others who may or may not have the right licenses. In this case, it's harder to go to the source and check if the printing shop has the correct licenses. indeed.

Stocksaurus · « **Reply #63 on:** June 16, 2021, 10:32 »

Quote from: Zero Talent on June 16, 2021, 08:48

Copytrack worked with me and chased some famous photographer who was selling his worldwide photography tours using my photos. While it was very wrong from an ethical point of view, legally he was ok since he purchased licenses from SS. He apologized and blamed his website administrator for the "error".

The other thing I just realized, it that some Etsy sellers are purchasing and reselling Prints made by others who may or may not have the right licenses. In this case, it's harder to go to the source and check if the printing shop has the correct licenses. indeed.

Hahaha it's getting funny, a travel photographer using unlicensed travel images from somebody else

Why i'm not surprised ...

Etsy "arbitrage" ? Yes, and it also happens on Fiverr and other platforms, as i said already it's a total sh-itshow and a digital wild west, nothing is going to change until new draconian laws are enacted worldwide to protect digital artists from theft and copyright infringement.

Zero Talent · « **Reply #64 on:** June 16, 2021, 10:47 »

Quote from: Stocksaurus on June 16, 2021, 10:32

Quote from: Zero Talent on June 16, 2021, 08:48
Copytrack worked with me and chased some famous photographer who was selling his worldwide photography tours using my photos. While it was very wrong from an ethical point of view, legally he was ok since he purchased licenses from SS. He apologized and blamed his website administrator for the "error".

The other thing I just realized, it that some Etsy sellers are purchasing and reselling Prints made by others who may or may not have the right licenses. In this case, it's harder to go to the source and check if the printing shop has the correct licenses. indeed.

Hahaha it's getting funny, a travel photographer using unlicensed travel images from somebody else
Why i'm not surprised ...

Etsy "arbitrage" ? Yes, and it also happens on Fiverr and other platforms, as i said already it's a total sh-itshow and a digital wild west, nothing is going to change until new draconian laws are enacted worldwide to protect digital artists from theft and copyright infringement.

No. As I said, that internet celebrity was using legally licensed photos from SS, to promote his photography skills and sell his tours.

But I am curious about one thing: what are you trying to achieve here by trying so hard to convince this community that any fight against thieves is futile?

I'm asking because, as someone pointed out to me, in your very first post made on this forum, you were looking for free extended licenses exactly for selling "Prints and Merch on PODs" (see attached).

farbled · « **Reply #65 on:** June 16, 2021, 12:01 »

Quote from: Zero Talent on June 16, 2021, 10:47

No. As I said, that internet celebrity was using legally licensed photos from SS, to promote his photography skills and sell his tours.

But I am curious about one thing: what are you trying to achieve here by trying so hard to convince this community that any fight against thieves is futile?

I'm asking because, as someone pointed out to me, in your very first post made on this forum, you were looking for free extended licenses exactly for selling "Prints and Merch on PODs" (see attached).

Ooh plot twist.

Stocksaurus · « **Reply #66 on:** June 16, 2021, 17:44 »

Quote from: Zero Talent on June 16, 2021, 10:47

No. As I said, that internet celebrity was using legally licensed photos from SS, to promote his photography skills and sell his tours.

But I am curious about one thing: what are you trying to achieve here by trying so hard to convince this community that any fight against thieves is futile?

I'm asking because, as someone pointed out to me, in your very first post made on this forum, you were looking for free extended licenses exactly for selling "Prints and Merch on PODs" (see attached).

Wrong, i'm seeking cheap extended licenses to make complex "composites" and it can get easily unaffordable unless i find a way to keep costs low.
I would never buy a single image to resell on PODs, i've already my own photos to deal with.

As for the internet celebrity, the irony is a famous photographer is not using his own photos to promote his product on his own site, this is the worst thing a travel photographer can do but again i'm not surprised.

Stocksaurus · « **Reply #67 on:** June 16, 2021, 17:59 »

Quote from: farbled on June 16, 2021, 12:01

Quote from: Zero Talent on June 16, 2021, 10:47

No. As I said, that internet celebrity was using legally licensed photos from SS, to promote his photography skills and sell his tours.

But I am curious about one thing: what are you trying to achieve here by trying so hard to convince this community that any fight against thieves is futile?

I'm asking because, as someone pointed out to me, in your very first post made on this forum, you were looking for free extended licenses exactly for selling "Prints and Merch on PODs" (see attached).

Ooh plot twist.

There's no plot twist :

As an example i've drawn the sketch of a composite where i need a background with an erupting volcano, two lions, a semi nude girl of a specific ethnicity in a specific position and style i don't have in my photo archive, other 3-4 small objects i can't shoot at the moment.

What should i do ? take an airplane to shoot the lions in africa, the volcano in iceland, and another airplane to shoot the girl in exotic distant countries, or just buy all of them as stock images ?

If possible i'll use stock, at the cheapest price, otherwise i'll have to ditch this project or as a last option use pics from Unsplash or Pixabay with the risk of using images that have no model release or were outright stolen from stock agencies or whatever.

Now, i could risk it for small objects but not for the central object (the girl, which definetely needs a model release).
Sure,i could just shoot my girlfriend and case closed, but then the whole idea behind the composite wouldn't make sense.

Even mixing and matching EL stock images with small CC0 images and using heavy filtering and editing it's still a "derivative work" unless you own 100% of the licenses, and you're stuck in a gray area legally at least in europe while in the US you could get away with "fair use" somehow.

Zero Talent · « **Reply #68 on:** June 17, 2021, 12:05 »

Quote from: leremy on June 14, 2021, 22:41

I saw many people use my artworks in their merchandise products (stickers, mugs, scratch cards, etc) at Etsy. And I wrote to them to check if they have an Extended License for them.

All of them do not have Extended License. Some of them thought they have it, but they actually bought the wrong license. The honest and good will then proceed to buy the Extended License from me... usually they will buy even more artworks (Extended License) than the existing one.

This is exactly what just happened this morning. Someone showed me the licenses he purchased from DepositPhotos. But these were Standard licenses. I explained that these are not valid for the purpose.
He apologized and immediately after he purchased Extended licenses. See the attachment.

farbled · « **Reply #69 on:** June 17, 2021, 14:24 »

Quote from: Stocksaurus on June 16, 2021, 17:59

There's no plot twist :

As an example i've drawn the sketch of a composite where i need a background with an erupting volcano, two lions, a semi nude girl of a specific ethnicity in a specific position and style i don't have in my photo archive, other 3-4 small objects i can't shoot at the moment.

What should i do ? take an airplane to shoot the lions in africa, the volcano in iceland, and another airplane to shoot the girl in exotic distant countries, or just buy all of them as stock images ?

If possible i'll use stock, at the cheapest price, otherwise i'll have to ditch this project or as a last option use pics from Unsplash or Pixabay with the risk of using images that have no model release or were outright stolen from stock agencies or whatever.

Now, i could risk it for small objects but not for the central object (the girl, which definetely needs a model release).
Sure,i could just shoot my girlfriend and case closed, but then the whole idea behind the composite wouldn't make sense.

Even mixing and matching EL stock images with small CC0 images and using heavy filtering and editing it's still a "derivative work" unless you own 100% of the licenses, and you're stuck in a gray area legally at least in europe while in the US you could get away with "fair use" somehow.

All I got from that is there is a level of acceptable risk for you to use photos you may or may not have the rights to.

KellyHeadrick · « **Reply #70 on:** June 17, 2021, 14:35 »

newbielink:https://www.etsy.com/legal/policy/reselling/239324376512 [nonactive]

Hello, I have been following this thread closely as I have had to report people on Etsy, redbubble, society six, and flickr as well. I did a little digging at Etsy because one of the thieves said that they bought a license through Adobe. According to Etsy's handbook, reselling is not allowed period. So anyone selling any work from someone else is breaking the rules, license or no.

Stocksaurus · « **Reply #71 on:** June 17, 2021, 15:18 »

Quote from: KellyHeadrick on June 17, 2021, 14:35

https://www.etsy.com/legal/policy/reselling/239324376512

Hello, I have been following this thread closely as I have had to report people on Etsy, redbubble, society six, and flickr as well. I did a little digging at Etsy because one of the thieves said that they bought a license through Adobe. According to Etsy's handbook, reselling is not allowed period. So anyone selling any work from someone else is breaking the rules, license or no.

Reselling is not allowed only in the Handmade category, it's ok everywhere else.

Stocksaurus · « **Reply #72 on:** June 17, 2021, 15:44 »

Quote from: farbled on June 17, 2021, 14:24

All I got from that is there is a level of acceptable risk for you to use photos you may or may not have the rights to.

In the end i will ditch the composites i can't assemble with parts of my own photos, it's useless to waste money with EL licenses or trying your luck using CC0/PublicDomain images of dubious origin.

KellyHeadrick · « **Reply #73 on:** June 17, 2021, 15:45 »

Yes, that is where my photos were listed. The only other categories, I believe, are vintage and craft supplies.

Stocksaurus · « **Reply #74 on:** June 17, 2021, 16:22 »

Quote from: KellyHeadrick on June 17, 2021, 15:45

Yes, that is where my photos were listed. The only other categories, I believe, are vintage and craft supplies.

Well, good luck then.
As shown already in this long discussion you will have to fight thieves on a full time basis, in the meantime they're making sales and giving nothing back apart saying they're sorry when they get caught.

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Author Topic: Crazy number of thieves at Etsy (Read 24352 times)

Uncle Pete

Zero Talent

Zero Talent

leremy

Zero Talent

changingsky

Justanotherphotographer

leremy

Uncle Pete

Stocksaurus

Stocksaurus

Stocksaurus

Zero Talent

Stocksaurus

Zero Talent

farbled

Stocksaurus

Stocksaurus

Zero Talent

farbled

KellyHeadrick

Stocksaurus

Stocksaurus

KellyHeadrick

Stocksaurus

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