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Author Topic: Etsy is the absolute worst  (Read 21458 times)

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Justanotherphotographer

« on: April 02, 2019, 03:00 »
0
As everyone here probably knows there's a thriving industry on Etsy of people selling our vectors (as well as violating copyright of big studios and the like).

Just a search for "vector" or "SVG" on the site and some keyword of your best sellers and they are probably there.

What I didn't know until recently was Etsy's policy Re. DMCA notices, which explains how some shops have been getting away with it for years and on hundreds of listings.

They will accept any DMCA counter notice as long as it is filled in with an existing address and phone number and allow the seller to relist. Even if the seller has just used an address of an unrelated business, and you point that out to Etsy.  As far as I can work out that even takes the strike off the account so they are "clean" and do this as many times as they like (this seems to be the case as there are sellers that have done this many times over).

So as far as I can work out the only sellers getting shut down, or even having items removed, are honest sellers who made an actual mistake. The big time crooks making many thousands of dollars know how to play the system and keep on going. I finally understood how there are two or three shops on there with thousands of stolen vectors and no repercussions.
« Last Edit: April 02, 2019, 03:13 by Justanotherphotographer »


« Reply #1 on: April 02, 2019, 14:41 »
+2
I hate sending just cash to a kid's birthday party so for a last minute party  a couple weeks ago I bought a quick svg on Etsy to cut t-shirt vinyl and include a heat pressed t-shirt. 

I'm certainly not an expert with iDesignR software for my Roland cutter.  The edges around the svg looked a bit jagged, but I decided it would look smooth enough for a t-shirt.  I sent the image to print, and surprize, a huge letter C cuts out across it - which I couldn't see because it was white against the white background (discovered by adding a shadow).  I assumed it was fragments left from removing a copyright symbol. 

I contacted Etsy but they told me I had to take it up with Paypal and that they basically have nothing to do with it.  And the file is still for sale.

Up until this point I have purchased dozens of items off Etsy.  Some shipped raw goods, but almost exclusively sewing patterns by indie designers for dance and athletic wear.  This experience and Etsy's lack of responsibility have really upset me.  Most pattern designers use multiple outlets, but liked Etsy because it charged less fees to them than Craftsy (which is now Blueprint and I don't know their fees).  I guarantee you - I will make sure I don't have to purchase anything on that platform unless I can't find it elsewhere or validate they are legit.  (Most of these designers have a large social footprint and active in same groups I am). 

The sad thing is, the purchase in question was for around $3.  I know I'm just one person and I don't matter one bit to Etsy, I certainly won't recommend them again.

Uncle Pete

  • Great Place by a Great Lake - My Home Port
« Reply #2 on: April 03, 2019, 10:14 »
+5
As everyone here probably knows there's a thriving industry on Etsy of people selling our vectors (as well as violating copyright of big studios and the like).

Just a search for "vector" or "SVG" on the site and some keyword of your best sellers and they are probably there.

What I didn't know until recently was Etsy's policy Re. DMCA notices, which explains how some shops have been getting away with it for years and on hundreds of listings.

They will accept any DMCA counter notice as long as it is filled in with an existing address and phone number and allow the seller to relist. Even if the seller has just used an address of an unrelated business, and you point that out to Etsy.  As far as I can work out that even takes the strike off the account so they are "clean" and do this as many times as they like (this seems to be the case as there are sellers that have done this many times over).

So as far as I can work out the only sellers getting shut down, or even having items removed, are honest sellers who made an actual mistake. The big time crooks making many thousands of dollars know how to play the system and keep on going. I finally understood how there are two or three shops on there with thousands of stolen vectors and no repercussions.

Class Action Lawsuit?

Eventually some lawyer will see this and some of the others that use the "we didn't know" defense or don't actually try, and then find a bunch of vector artists who have been running into the same cycle as you. Then maybe places like Etsy or FAA or Redbubble and Zazzle will start to care and close down the thieves?

« Reply #3 on: April 04, 2019, 00:00 »
+2
Went and had a look on etsy and within seconds found one of mine being sold as an embroidery design. Looks good too dammit. I'm so sick of this.

« Reply #4 on: April 05, 2019, 02:25 »
0
https://www.etsy.com/shop/RutaFoziSVG

See if your work is in this shop. This lady is a big time infringer.

Uncle Pete

  • Great Place by a Great Lake - My Home Port
« Reply #5 on: April 05, 2019, 09:48 »
+1
https://www.etsy.com/shop/RutaFoziSVG

See if your work is in this shop. This lady is a big time infringer.

Lucky me I don't make Vectors for her to steal. But please help someone who doesn't understand the art side. How does she copy others vectors to easily? Is this a matter of download a sample, make a SVG and upload or how is it so easy for people to do this?

« Reply #6 on: April 05, 2019, 15:33 »
+2
https://www.etsy.com/shop/RutaFoziSVG

See if your work is in this shop. This lady is a big time infringer.

Lucky me I don't make Vectors for her to steal. But please help someone who doesn't understand the art side. How does she copy others vectors to easily? Is this a matter of download a sample, make a SVG and upload or how is it so easy for people to do this?

There are numerous pirate sites they can download it from. I'm not going to link to them, but they're almost impossible to squash. The files are usually in EPS format, but it's a simple "Save As..." in illustrator if they want to to convert it to a SVG.

Uncle Pete

  • Great Place by a Great Lake - My Home Port
« Reply #7 on: April 05, 2019, 17:01 »
+6
https://www.etsy.com/shop/RutaFoziSVG

See if your work is in this shop. This lady is a big time infringer.

Lucky me I don't make Vectors for her to steal. But please help someone who doesn't understand the art side. How does she copy others vectors to easily? Is this a matter of download a sample, make a SVG and upload or how is it so easy for people to do this?

There are numerous pirate sites they can download it from. I'm not going to link to them, but they're almost impossible to squash. The files are usually in EPS format, but it's a simple "Save As..." in illustrator if they want to to convert it to a SVG.

Thanks, got it. I thought they were actually doing some work somehow. So these people are even worse losers than I suspected. Yes I know the free sites, I've seen mine on many. My least favorite of all time was one that searched for images on websites, like my personal site, then linked to the image, so in effect I was hosting the images for their users to steal from me.

What made it enjoyable was going and editing my site code, changing the name of the real photo and replacing their spider linked image with one that said in large red letters, "This site steals images and bandwidth" I haven't looked in years, but it was up for 2 or 3. I hope their user enjoyed the education.

« Reply #8 on: April 10, 2019, 19:47 »
+4
Another Etsy thief:

COZYAIT
https://www.etsy.com/nz/shop/CozyAit?ref=condensed_trust_header_title_items

Had one of my designs (now taken down after DMCA) but I can see other SS contribs work on her site. I dont know why these sites let these thieves continue to have their portfolios up when they have been proved to be breaching copyrights.

« Reply #9 on: April 11, 2019, 14:12 »
+1
Lots of Etsy shops selling the same digital downloads of photography, most of it illegal.  Here's one of the worst offenders:
https://etsy.me/2uY2JzN


« Reply #10 on: April 11, 2019, 21:06 »
+1
I found a few today and had them removed. Etsy was fast to react, but do they penalize the seller?

I just found a bunch more and it's really pissing me off. I could spend all day fighting these thieving a-holes.

Etsy needs to step up and ban these jerks.

« Reply #11 on: April 11, 2019, 22:34 »
+4
I've been busy reporting images tonight. Oh, and now after messaging a couple sellers directly I'm now blocked from using messages on Etsy.


« Reply #12 on: April 12, 2019, 02:48 »
0
Also lots of sellers sellings prints of stock images, obviously without extended licences.
This one  https://www.etsy.com/shop/CanvasGeeks has 3000 images and I found 3 of mine.

Their shop will be closed after 3 claims I think, so don't hesitate to report them.

Justanotherphotographer

« Reply #13 on: April 12, 2019, 03:05 »
+5
I've been busy reporting images tonight. Oh, and now after messaging a couple sellers directly I'm now blocked from using messages on Etsy.
That really takes the p*ss as one of their stock replies is "sort it out with the seller, we can't take sides".
Which in itself is farcical as they are already one of the "sides" as they take a cut from selling the blatantly stolen goods on their site.

...also please let us know if you get a counter notice for any of the batch. It really seems like a lot of the thieves have cottoned on to the little "trick" of sending a counter notice to avoid a strike on their account or even having to remove the work. Of course there's no practical way as copyright holders to pursue them. We really are completely reliant on Etsy caring at all about this stuff.
« Last Edit: April 12, 2019, 03:09 by Justanotherphotographer »

« Reply #14 on: April 23, 2019, 09:36 »
+2
I have been all over Etsy reporting my images being sold illegally and I have also contacted several other stock artists when I found their work for sale.

I know of one seller that has probably had 30-40 successful copyright reports in the past week and they're still active and selling stolen digital files daily.

Although Etsy is quick to remove the listing when reported, it appears they will not take any action against the seller.

It's often difficult to find the copyright holder because their Shutterstock profile name doesn't match any other name online. Something to consider when selling stock, you may want to make it easier for people to find you.
« Last Edit: April 23, 2019, 09:38 by daveh900 »

Uncle Pete

  • Great Place by a Great Lake - My Home Port
« Reply #15 on: May 02, 2019, 07:57 »
+2
I have been all over Etsy reporting my images being sold illegally and I have also contacted several other stock artists when I found their work for sale.

I know of one seller that has probably had 30-40 successful copyright reports in the past week and they're still active and selling stolen digital files daily.

Although Etsy is quick to remove the listing when reported, it appears they will not take any action against the seller.

It's often difficult to find the copyright holder because their Shutterstock profile name doesn't match any other name online. Something to consider when selling stock, you may want to make it easier for people to find you.

I hate to see this thread going quiet, when some sites are filled with stolen work.

The DMCA's principal innovation in the field of copyright is the exemption from direct and indirect liability of Internet service providers and other intermediaries.

This is why they drag their feet and don't do anything much about infringement. The websites are protected. Then they put the responsibility on us to find our own stolen work. I still don't understand, Only the owner can report a stolen image?

https://sarafhawkins.com/how-to-file-dmca-takedown/

"If you do not own the copyright or have a legal right to assert a claim of copyright infringement, youre wasting your time."



« Reply #16 on: May 11, 2019, 00:38 »
+2
The more I look, the more I find. I've never see such a clusterfuck of copyright infringement on any website.

I found one of my images being sold by at least 20 shops. Every profile I go into, I find more infringement. It's one rabbit hole after another. A lot of these images are being spread by just a few people who sell bundles for cheap. If Etsy would ban a few of them, it would stop flow of copyright material by at least 50%.

I wish Disney, Marvel, DC, and HBO go after infringers on Etsy. There are literally hundreds of thousands of Disney items on sale, without Disney's permission. Maybe Disney see them as free advertisement for their brands so they don't even bother.

The whole Etsy submission system encourages copyright infringement. They don't review anything. Any buyer can list an item for cheap and it goes to the store instantly and every time Etsy list something, they make money. Every time something is sold, they make money. They have no incentive to after copyright infringers.

« Reply #17 on: May 11, 2019, 17:11 »
+2
At one time I looked into selling prints on Etsy;  but I've decided to have nothing to do with them.  The fact that people can buy stock to resell as prints was one reason I got out of stock.

All these 'agencies' are scum IMHO.

Justanotherphotographer

« Reply #18 on: May 12, 2019, 03:51 »
0
I have been all over Etsy reporting my images being sold illegally and I have also contacted several other stock artists when I found their work for sale.

I know of one seller that has probably had 30-40 successful copyright reports in the past week and they're still active and selling stolen digital files daily.

Although Etsy is quick to remove the listing when reported, it appears they will not take any action against the seller.

It's often difficult to find the copyright holder because their Shutterstock profile name doesn't match any other name online. Something to consider when selling stock, you may want to make it easier for people to find you.
Can you post a link to the shop? we may be able to find some of ours too.

Edit: Here's a couple of offenders worth also worth a look:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/BigSvgBundle?
almost 7000 sales in the last year or so, conservatively making 2-3 dollars per sale. Evey items seems to infringe someone's copyright.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MetalClipart? lots of stuff I recognise in this one

https://www.etsy.com/shop/BestCutDesign?

Etsy's form for DMCA:

https://www.etsy.com/legal/ip/report

I'll add some more prolific offenders when I come across them
« Last Edit: May 12, 2019, 08:00 by Justanotherphotographer »

« Reply #19 on: May 12, 2019, 06:02 »
+1
Yes, I have been reporting https://www.etsy.com/shop/BigSvgBundle because he steals a lot of my stuffs. I hope more people will join the cause because Etsy will close his/her shop if more report is gathered. Please support.

Justanotherphotographer

« Reply #20 on: May 12, 2019, 07:59 »
0
Yes, I have been reporting https://www.etsy.com/shop/BigSvgBundle because he steals a lot of my stuffs. I hope more people will join the cause because Etsy will close his/her shop if more report is gathered. Please support.

Hope so, but I've also caught and reported multiple times and yet there he still is...

« Reply #21 on: May 12, 2019, 19:57 »
0
Yes, I have been reporting https://www.etsy.com/shop/BigSvgBundle because he steals a lot of my stuffs. I hope more people will join the cause because Etsy will close his/her shop if more report is gathered. Please support.

Hope so, but I've also caught and reported multiple times and yet there he still is...

He have counter notice my claim and I believe he had did the same tricks to others too. Do we have a lawyer here? How can we proceed from here?

marthamarks

« Reply #22 on: May 12, 2019, 22:39 »
+2

It's often difficult to find the copyright holder because their Shutterstock profile name doesn't match any other name online. Something to consider when selling stock, you may want to make it easier for people to find you.

Makes me glad I've always used my real name. I'm definitely easy to find.

Justanotherphotographer

« Reply #23 on: May 13, 2019, 03:14 »
0
Yes, I have been reporting https://www.etsy.com/shop/BigSvgBundle because he steals a lot of my stuffs. I hope more people will join the cause because Etsy will close his/her shop if more report is gathered. Please support.

Hope so, but I've also caught and reported multiple times and yet there he still is...

He have counter notice my claim and I believe he had did the same tricks to others too. Do we have a lawyer here? How can we proceed from here?

You could get a court order, but of course you actually can't because it they are probably in another country and you have no valid contact details, and it would be too expensive to be practical anyway.

Have you tried googling the contact details? If they have used the details of another individual or business you could try letting the business know, they may want to take action as the person is defaming them and potentially dragging them into legal battles that have nothing to do with them.

jonbull

    This user is banned.
« Reply #24 on: May 13, 2019, 03:33 »
+1
Yes, I have been reporting https://www.etsy.com/shop/BigSvgBundle because he steals a lot of my stuffs. I hope more people will join the cause because Etsy will close his/her shop if more report is gathered. Please support.

Hope so, but I've also caught and reported multiple times and yet there he still is...

He have counter notice my claim and I believe he had did the same tricks to others too. Do we have a lawyer here? How can we proceed from here?

You could get a court order, but of course you actually can't because it they are probably in another country and you have no valid contact details, and it would be too expensive to be practical anyway.

Have you tried googling the contact details? If they have used the details of another individual or business you could try letting the business know, they may want to take action as the person is defaming them and potentially dragging them into legal battles that have nothing to do with them.

you look like don chisciotte and the spinning wheel...is totally a waste of time and resources....nobody will care...photography vector video are zero dollar commodity...they stop stealing on yu they begin stealing somewhere else...and probably they are those are making much more money than 90 % of microstoccker...i repeat the moment we accepted one dollar for photo , because it looks so good living that life, we killed photography business...now is totally useless complaining...especcially since nobody cares at ss where files are stolen. we live in a n era where there tons of sites who give away images who are much better than images you can find in micro stock, and   we think we could live forever selling images in ss.
the only way to change thing is a massive bankutpt of all micro stock agency, and a comeback to the past where only good images are accepted, price are competitive.


 

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