Listing deactivationIP-4 · Intellectual Property Policy
Fan art and derivative works based on copyrighted characters require authorization
What Etsy says
Etsy terminates selling privileges of members who are subject to repeat or multiple notices of intellectual property infringement in appropriate circumstances and at Etsy's discretion.Read Etsy's full Intellectual Property Policy
How to stay compliant
- Identify any listings that depict or are clearly derived from specific copyrighted characters, franchises, or protected artwork.
- If you have a valid commercial license from the rights holder, add that information to the listing description and keep the license documentation on file.
- If you do not have a license, remove the listing. Reposting the same design with a different title after a takedown notice escalates to account-level consequences.
- For truly original, abstract artwork that is inspired by a genre or aesthetic (but not depicting a specific protected character), update the listing to emphasize the original elements and remove any language that identifies the source IP.
- Review all tags and remove any character names or franchise names from listings where you do not hold a license.
Effort: medium · 1-4 hours
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Related intellectual property policy rules
- Listings must not use another party's trademark without authorizationListing deactivation
- Listings must not reproduce copyrighted works without authorizationListing deactivation
- Counterfeit or unauthorized replica goods are prohibitedSuspension risk
- Using a real person's name or likeness to sell products requires their permissionListing deactivation
- Repeat IP infringement notices lead to account terminationSuspension risk
- DMCA counter-notice: seller asserts good-faith belief that takedown was mistake or misidentificationListing deactivation