Etsy positions itself as a marketplace for handmade, vintage, and creative goods, but that reputation also makes it a target for sellers who exploit well-known brand names to drive traffic to their shops. If someone is using your registered trademark in their listings, product titles, or shop name without your authorisation, you have a clear route to get it removed. This guide walks through exactly how to do that.
Before you report: Not every listing that mentions your brand is a trademark violation. A seller describing a product as "inspired by [Brand]" or "compatible with [Brand]" may be using your name descriptively rather than commercially. Actual trademark infringement involves unauthorised use of a mark in a way that is likely to confuse consumers into thinking the product is genuine or officially affiliated. Confirm this before you file.
Trademark vs Copyright: Know Which Claim to File
This distinction matters because Etsy processes them differently, and filing the wrong type slows everything down.
Trademark infringement applies when someone uses your brand name, logo, or other registered mark without permission in a way that could mislead buyers. Examples include:
- A listing selling goods under your brand name that you did not produce or authorise
- A shop name that incorporates your registered trademark to imply official affiliation
- Product images displaying your logo on counterfeit goods
Copyright infringement applies when someone reproduces your original creative work without permission. Examples include:
- Copying your official product photography and using it in their listing
- Reproducing your original product descriptions or marketing copy verbatim
If the problem is your brand name or logo being misused, file a trademark claim. If the problem is your images or written content being copied, file a copyright claim. Many infringements involve both, and Etsy's reporting portal allows you to specify which rights are being violated. For a deeper breakdown of how these two enforcement routes differ, see our guide on DMCA vs trademark takedowns.
What to Gather Before You File
A complete evidence package makes the difference between a report that gets actioned and one that gets rejected. Before you open the Etsy Reporting Portal, have the following ready:
- Trademark registration details: Your registration number, the class it covers, and the issuing authority (for example, the UKIPO, EUIPO, or USPTO). Etsy's review team needs this to verify your rights.
- The infringing listing URL: Copy the full URL of each listing you are reporting. Also note the seller name and shop name.
- Dated screenshots: Capture the listing with the URL visible in the browser bar and a visible date. This creates a record in case the seller edits or deletes the listing after you report it.
- Evidence of the infringement itself: A clear explanation of how the listing uses your trademark without authorisation, for example, your brand name in the product title, your logo on the product, or your mark in the shop name.
- Proof of authorisation (or lack of it): If you have a list of authorised sellers or distributors, this helps demonstrate the shop is not part of your legitimate network.
Tip: Keep this evidence in a folder named by seller ID and date. If the seller relists or opens a new shop, you will have a documented history to include in follow-up reports.
How to Submit the Report: Step by Step
Etsy's Intellectual Property Policy provides a dedicated reporting route for rights holders. Here is how to use it.
Step 1: Go to the Etsy Reporting Portal
Navigate to etsy.com/ipreporting. This is Etsy's primary route for IP infringement reports and routes your submission to a specialist review team rather than a general complaints queue.
If you need to report a username, shop name, or video content rather than a product listing, Etsy requires you to email legal@etsy.com instead, with all required details included in the message.
Step 2: Select Trademark Infringement as the Claim Type
The portal will ask you to identify the type of intellectual property being violated. Select trademark infringement. If the listing also uses your copyrighted images or text, you can note that separately, but lead with the trademark claim if that is the primary issue.
Step 3: Enter Your Trademark Details
Provide your trademark registration number, the jurisdiction, and the goods or services class it covers. Be specific. Vague submissions are more likely to be deprioritised or rejected.
Step 4: List the Infringing URLs
Paste the full URL of each infringing listing. You can report multiple listings in a single submission. Include the seller name and shop name for each one.
Step 5: Explain the Infringement
In the description field, explain clearly how each listing violates your trademark rights. For example: "The listing uses our registered trademark [MARK] in the product title and product images to sell goods we did not produce or authorise. Our trademark is registered under [number] with [authority]."
Step 6: Submit and Record the Case Reference
Once submitted, save the case reference number Etsy provides. You will need this for any follow-up or escalation.
What Happens After You Report
Once Etsy receives a valid report, it will review the submission and attempt to contact the affected seller. If the report meets its requirements, the listing will be removed or disabled.
Note that according to Etsy's Intellectual Property Policy, Etsy may share a copy of your report with the seller, including your name and email address.
Three outcomes are possible:
- Removal: The listing is taken down. For repeat offenders, Etsy may suspend the shop entirely.
- Request for more information: Etsy asks for additional documentation. Respond with exactly what is requested rather than resubmitting the original report.
- Rejection: The report does not meet Etsy's criteria. Read the rejection reason, address the specific gap, and resubmit with stronger evidence.
Repeat Infringers
Etsy's policy states that it terminates selling privileges of members subject to repeat or multiple notices of intellectual property infringement. If Etsy believes a terminated member has opened a new shop, it reserves the right to refuse service to that member across any associated accounts.
In practice, sellers do relist under new shop names. This is why keeping a record of seller details, including usernames, shop names, and listing URLs, matters from the first report onward. For more on handling counterfeit sellers who keep coming back, see our guide on how to stop repeat counterfeit sellers after the first takedown.
When Manual Reporting Is Not Enough
Filing a single report through Etsy's portal is manageable once you have the evidence in order. The harder problem is staying ahead of infringement when it is happening across multiple listings or multiple sellers at the same time.
Manual monitoring works for a handful of listings. It does not scale when sellers are relisting under new shop names faster than a team can find and report them.
Remove.tech's brand protection platform monitors marketplaces including Etsy continuously, using AI-driven detection and image recognition to surface infringing listings as they appear. Validated results are packaged with the evidence needed to file, so enforcement becomes something the system handles at volume rather than a task your team rebuilds from scratch each time. To see how many Etsy listings are already using your trademark, request a free brand audit.
FAQ
Do I need a registered trademark to report infringement on Etsy?
Etsy's reporting portal asks for trademark registration details as part of the submission. Reports supported by a registered mark are easier for the review team to verify and more likely to succeed. If your brand does not yet have a registered trademark, treat obtaining one as a priority.
What is the difference between a trademark claim and a copyright claim on Etsy?
A trademark claim covers the unauthorised use of your brand name, logo, or other registered mark. A copyright claim covers the unauthorised reproduction of your original creative work, such as product photography or written descriptions. Etsy processes these differently, so selecting the correct claim type matters.
Can a seller appeal after their listing is removed?
Yes. For copyright claims, Etsy accepts DMCA counter notices for US-based reports. The removed content may be reinstated 10 to 14 business days after a valid counter notice unless the rights holder files a court action. For trademark claims, Etsy handles each case at its discretion.
What if the seller just relists the same product after removal?
Document the relist with the new listing URL, seller name, and date, then file a new report referencing the prior case. A documented history of prior reports strengthens the case for a full account suspension rather than another single listing removal.
How long does Etsy take to review a trademark report?
Etsy does not publish a guaranteed turnaround time. Reports with complete evidence, particularly trademark registration details and specific listing URLs, are generally reviewed faster than incomplete submissions. Monitor the listing directly rather than relying solely on an acknowledgement email.
