Author Topic: We need to sue Etsy (Please set up a Class Action Lawsuit) (Read 5457 times)

Charlene · « **on:** December 01, 2022, 18:54 »

99.99% of the digital files in Etsy are stolen and resell at Etsy.

And boy, these thieves sold ten of thousands sales per account and each sale is about $3-$5 on average, not to mentioned many of them bundle up and sell it for $20 per download.

Problem is, Etsy pretend to care, but actually they don't and allows the criminal activities to flourish because they earn money from the listing and took a percentage from the sales.

I hope we can setup a class action lawsuit to sue Etsy for this.

WaterView · « **Reply #1 on:** December 01, 2022, 19:35 »

I've never sold images on Etsy but I do license my images through the stock sites. Can you link some examples of stolen digital images on Etsy just in case I might see some of mine? Thanks Charlene

Charlene · « **Reply #2 on:** December 02, 2022, 01:28 »

Here is a simple query of the keyword "svg" https://www.etsy.com/search?q=svg
Or
svg dog https://www.etsy.com/search?q=dog+svg

Justanotherphotographer · « **Reply #3 on:** December 02, 2022, 04:00 »

Yes, the amount of thieves on etsy is insane. Not helped by dozens of youtube videos telling people how to steal work from Canva and make SVG vectors to sell on Etsy, and saying legally it’s fine.

A lot of these thieves have also learned how to file file a counter notice and Etsy will keep selling their work even after you DMCA it.

Third compounding irritation, even the biggest seller of “original” looking SVG files (so someone that is selling stuff that looks like their artwork rather than just Disney stuff or huge sets of clearly stolen stock vectors) is also a thief. Their portfolio is full of slightly reworked pieces from other people’s portfolios. This gives them a little more cover than the vast majority that are straight up reselling other people’s work unchanged. They have been at it for years and have hundreds of thousands of DLs over several accounts.

WaterView · « **Reply #4 on:** December 02, 2022, 18:44 »

Quote from: Charlene on December 02, 2022, 01:28

Here is a simple query of the keyword "svg" https://www.etsy.com/search?q=svg
Or
svg dog https://www.etsy.com/search?q=dog+svg

Thanks Charlene. Not my type of work.

Justanotherphotographer · « **Reply #6 on:** December 19, 2022, 10:17 »

Quote from: DannyCanva on December 18, 2022, 21:57

Quote from: Justanotherphotographer on December 02, 2022, 04:00
Yes, the amount of thieves on etsy is insane. Not helped by dozens of youtube videos telling people how to steal work from Canva and make SVG vectors to sell on Etsy, and saying legally it’s fine.

A lot of these thieves have also learned how to file file a counter notice and Etsy will keep selling their work even after you DMCA it.

Gah. I've alerted our legal team to those videos, we have got these taken done by the past but they keep popping up

If you have a few examples of sellers filing improper counter-notices to your content, please send evidence to danny+copyright [at] canva and I would like to follow up with our contacts at Etsy

Yes, a quick google search brings up loads of the videos.

Thank you taking an interest. Some examples of sellers abusing the counter notices:

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/EuIllustration?

Has been at it for years. A quick look at their portfolio will show that they do massive sets of vectors largely made up of stock illustrator’s work stolen, bundled and resold for pennies. I have notified other artists and we’ve all DMCA’d them in the past. They’re still up and file counter notices as standard, not replying to emails.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/NanArtStudio?

Is another one, stealing not only small artist’s work but also from big studios etc. Again, will always send a counter notice as standard and the are still able to go on selling the stolen work.

I have dozens more in my inbox.

Good luck dealing with Etsy. They don’t care. I have taken it up with them and their response is nonsense. They will even accept counter notices filled in with blatantly made up addresses/ contact details, so even if it was practical to pursue legally, it would be impossible with no actual contact info.

They claim they “have to process all cases in accordance with [their] Intellectual Property Policy”. Bizarre circular reasoning when it is them who wrote their policy!!

U11 · « **Reply #7 on:** December 19, 2022, 12:16 »

it is not only about Etsy, creative gig economy is built on this
look at Fiverr or any POD site they are full of unlicensed work
and to take down your stolen work you need a DMCA
which may easily take all your available time
whiles thieves need just re-register under a new name

THP Creative · « **Reply #8 on:** December 19, 2022, 16:34 »

Quote from: DannyCanva on December 18, 2022, 21:57

Quote from: Justanotherphotographer on December 02, 2022, 04:00
Yes, the amount of thieves on etsy is insane. Not helped by dozens of youtube videos telling people how to steal work from Canva and make SVG vectors to sell on Etsy, and saying legally it’s fine.

A lot of these thieves have also learned how to file file a counter notice and Etsy will keep selling their work even after you DMCA it.

Gah. I've alerted our legal team to those videos, we have got these taken done by the past but they keep popping up

If you have a few examples of sellers filing improper counter-notices to your content, please send evidence to danny+copyright [at] canva and I would like to follow up with our contacts at Etsy

fotoroad · « **Reply #9 on:** December 19, 2022, 16:46 »

I've never sold images on Etsy but I am dealing with them right now

someone hack my account and I owe around $1200.00 /not me but someone ''INVISIBLE''/ ....I can not log in but after couple e mails I find some nice person in customer service which help me with this part, now I can not close my account because "I owe them money"... Not over yet

but I am believer first

....hmm... Happy.... Halloween

Justanotherphotographer · « **Reply #10 on:** December 20, 2022, 09:26 »

Quote from: fotoroad on December 19, 2022, 16:46

I've never sold images on Etsy but I am dealing with them right now someone hack my account and I owe around $1200.00 /not me but someone ''INVISIBLE''/ ....I can not log in but after couple e mails I find some nice person in customer service which help me with this part, now I can not close my account because "I owe them money"... Not over yet but I am believer first ....hmm... Happy.... Halloween

I think a LOT of accounts have got hacked in a similar way. I DMCAd lots of people with near identical listings. They were pointing customers to buy the images off site. I got a message back from one person saying thank you and that they used to sell on Etsy but hadn’t used the account for years.

They had been hacked by someone who was racking up fees for listings and ads to the account, but all the income was being pocketed off site by them selling direct.

I believe all these accounts were being run the same way, as they seemed to be people who had been on the site a long time ago selling other stuff in the past but recently had a load of digital dls added and advertised.

Can you see the account? Have they set up as a shop?

ETA Just did a search. The listings looked like this:

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1280603229/just-do-it-bundle-svg-sport-svg-cut?

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1243757616/8000-files-sport-svg-mega-bundle-sport?

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1281206891/sport-logo-brand-bundle-590-file-svg?

Totally against Etsy's terms to point people off site like this, but I don't think they bother policing the site enough to notice (it took me 2 seconds to find)

fotoroad · « **Reply #11 on:** December 20, 2022, 12:34 »

Yes I can see my account right now, but I can not close because I have message I must paid almost $1,300.00 I already deactivate 61 listings from store what is not main. Everything start this November, I did not use Etsy couple years just get emai from billing department last week . I can not even respond because I need code, someone set it up triple protection.. Really Catch 22, no code no log in, no log in no communication. Not really easy

fotoroad · « **Reply #12 on:** December 20, 2022, 17:30 »

Quote from: fotoroad on December 20, 2022, 12:34

Yes I can see my account right now, but I can not close because I have message I must paid almost $1,300.00 I already deactivate 61 listings from store what is not main. Everything start this November, I did not use Etsy couple years just get emai from billing department last week . I can not even respond because I need code, someone set it up triple protection.. Really Catch 22, no code no log in, no log in no communication. Not really easy

It was no progress so far, same repeating around, if you want close your account you must paid your balance.... But it was not my balance. Simone hack my account, What can I do it in this situation? Any ideas?

Justanotherphotographer · « **Reply #13 on:** December 21, 2022, 05:15 »

Have you tried their forum?

I did a forum search for "hacked" and it sounds like a lot of people have posted with the same sort of thing.
eg.
https://community.etsy.com/t5/Technical-Issues/ACCOUNT-HACKED/m-p/140504851

Maybe there is a solution there somewhere, or try posting?

fotoroad · « **Reply #14 on:** December 21, 2022, 09:25 »

I do not think forum is helpful, same respond today again,

Upon review by our account security, there found your account with no clear signs of account hacking, and unfortunately, you would really need to settle the balance if you want to close shop.

I do not know about their account security but reality is I have 61 strange listing from October to December not from me
with this text.

🎁 PLEASE READ THE DESCRIPTION 🎁
✅The link below will fly you to this awesome product:
⏩⏩⏩Bouteeq.co/CHR03
⏩⏩Bouteeq.co/CHR03
⏩Bouteeq.co/CHR03

Unfortunately, We Are UInable to Accept Payment Method On This Shop Today.
Please Visit And Order On Our Website With A big Discount ( Only Today !!) 𝘍𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘉𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸
👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇
https://bouteeq.co
https://bouteeq.co

Justanotherphotographer · « **Reply #15 on:** December 21, 2022, 11:49 »

Wow that is awful. It is exactly the thing I was talking about and they have dozens of other examples on the site right now. As well as other people on the forum complaining about and describing the exact same thing! Outrageous (and unsurprising)

fotoroad · « **Reply #16 on:** December 21, 2022, 16:14 »

Quote from: Justanotherphotographer on December 21, 2022, 11:49

Wow that is awful. It is exactly the thing I was talking about and they have dozens of other examples on the site right now. As well as other people on the forum complaining about and describing the exact same thing! Outrageous (and unsurprising)

Yes, it was really disaster, how bad must be the security team if can not find from where is someone log in? I am not IT expert but i think must be really very easy possible to find out. Ridiculous. Really holiday time.
I will ask my friend, he is building secure pages for big corporation.

Uncle Pete · « **Reply #17 on:** December 22, 2022, 14:14 »

Quote from: fotoroad on December 21, 2022, 16:14

Quote from: Justanotherphotographer on December 21, 2022, 11:49
Wow that is awful. It is exactly the thing I was talking about and they have dozens of other examples on the site right now. As well as other people on the forum complaining about and describing the exact same thing! Outrageous (and unsurprising)
Yes, it was really disaster, how bad must be the security team if can not find from where is someone log in? I am not IT expert but i think must be really very easy possible to find out. Ridiculous. Really holiday time.
I will ask my friend, he is building secure pages for big corporation.

They could make two step verification standard and optional. Some people can't do that, but hardly anyone is without a cell phone anymore. This assures that the account holder who is registered, is the one logging in. Also prevents multiple accounts and returning thieves to some extent.

Someone must have figured an easy way to get access to many accounts and post these sales items. "Hacking" accounts isn't that easy, except when people use the same password everywhere, and it's out on the web. Anything to do with ANYTHING financial needs to have an individual password.

cascoly · « **Reply #18 on:** December 22, 2022, 15:00 »

Quote from: Uncle Pete on December 22, 2022, 14:14

...,
They could make two step verification standard and optional. Some people can't do that, but hardly anyone is without a cell phone anymore. This assures that the account holder who is registered, is the one logging in. Also prevents multiple accounts and returning thieves to some extent.
...

any fairly easy addition to 2-step is a security question - MailChimp does this. we use it for a board where i'm webmaster & get the verification notice but others have occ'l need for access

Annie2022 · « **Reply #19 on:** December 22, 2022, 19:45 »

Pacesetter · « **Reply #20 on:** December 22, 2022, 22:41 »

Quote from: Annie2022 on December 22, 2022, 19:45

I closed my Etsy shop because I was getting trolled via their messaging system by fake accounts. I knew they were fake because real buyers wouldn't ask the questions they were asking. In the end, it just wasn't worth all the hassles. Sick husband, my own health is not great at the moment (reactive hypoglycemia has flared up again), and dont need the stress.

Wishing everyone here a happy Christmas. Peace on earth to all xx

Annie, yes certainly don't need that stress when dealing with health.

I wish you and your family a happy, peaceful and restful Christmas as well.

fotoroad · « **Reply #21 on:** December 23, 2022, 08:00 »

Quote from: Annie2022 on December 22, 2022, 19:45

I closed my Etsy shop because I was getting trolled via their messaging system by fake accounts. I knew they were fake because real buyers wouldn't ask the questions they were asking. In the end, it just wasn't worth all the hassles. Sick husband, my own health is not great at the moment (reactive hypoglycemia has flared up again), and dont need the stress.

Wishing everyone here a happy Christmas. Peace on earth to all xx

Feel better Annie2022 and your husbond, I know what you are talking about, I am recovering also, almost my first ,,normal,, holiday but always exist some Grinch around us.

fotoroad · « **Reply #22 on:** December 23, 2022, 08:09 »

I am not IT expert, but it was not possible for security team find out from where someone log in - location, computer, time, etc? One person is complaining about product, someone must send it to him from somewhere. They already suspend my account, I really do not need him, no respond for two days, I understand, it is holiday time.

fotoroad · « **Reply #23 on:** December 24, 2022, 08:40 »

Quote from: fotoroad on December 23, 2022, 08:09

I am not IT expert, but it was not possible for security team find out from where someone log in - location, computer, time, etc? One person is complaining about product, someone must send it to him from somewhere. They already suspend my account, I really do not need him, no respond for two days, I understand, it is holiday time.

My Etsy case update: Yesterday I get email from Etsy , my balance is removed
and I already ask for deletion. Very bad experience, but good news is good people who care about other exist.
Happy holiday to all.

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Author Topic: We need to sue Etsy (Please set up a Class Action Lawsuit) (Read 5457 times)

Charlene

WaterView

Charlene

Justanotherphotographer

WaterView

DannyCanva

Justanotherphotographer

U11

THP Creative

fotoroad

Justanotherphotographer

fotoroad

fotoroad

Justanotherphotographer

fotoroad

Justanotherphotographer

fotoroad

Uncle Pete

cascoly

Annie2022

Pacesetter

fotoroad

fotoroad

fotoroad

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