Etsy listing removed for trademark or copyright? What an IP notice means and your options
An intellectual property (IP) notice from Etsy means a rights owner reported one or more of your listings, and Etsy removed them. What you can do next depends on what kind of IP the report is about. This page explains the options Etsy describes — it isn’t legal advice, and if you’re unsure, talk to an IP lawyer.
What happened
When a rights owner reports a listing, Etsy deactivates it and sends you an IP infringement notice. Etsy doesn’t decide who is right: it acts on the report and, for questions about the claim, points you to the party that filed it. Etsy says it can’t speak on behalf of the rights owner.
Read the notice for two things: who reported it, and whether it’s a copyright or a trademark (or other non-copyright) report.
If it’s a trademark report
There is no counter notice for trademark or other non-copyright reports — Etsy only accepts counter notices for copyright. Etsy’s guidance is to contact the party that filed the report directly if you have questions about the claim, why your listing was identified, or how to resolve it.
Be honest with yourself about the listing:
- Their brand, character or logo is on the item, and you don’t have a license? Then the report is likely valid. Removing the name from the title doesn’t change what the item is — don’t relist it.
- You only used their brand name in the title or tags to describe compatibility or style? Contact the reporter, explain, and agree how to word it before listing again.
- The item is genuinely yours or licensed? Contact the reporter with your evidence — a license agreement, invoices, or proof you created it.
If it’s a copyright report
If you believe the listing was removed by mistake — for example, you created the design yourself — you can file a DMCA counter notice, using the link in Etsy’s email. Etsy says a counter notice must include:
- your signature (typing your name counts);
- identification of the material that was removed;
- a statement under penalty of perjury that it was removed by mistake;
- your name, address, phone number and email.
If the reporter doesn’t tell Etsy they’re pursuing a court order, Etsy says the material may be relisted 10 business days after it processes the counter notice.
A counter notice is a sworn legal statement. If you misrepresent that something isn’t infringing, you may be liable for damages, including costs and attorneys’ fees. Etsy advises talking to an attorney first if you’re not sure — and not creating new listings for the same content until the issue is resolved.
Protect the rest of your shop
Repeated IP reports can lead to restrictions on your account. After a notice, review your other listings for the same issue — the same character, logo or brand name — and fix or remove them before they’re reported too. For other kinds of removals, see Etsy listing deactivated or removed.