Suspension riskIP-6 · Intellectual Property Policy

Repeat IP infringement notices lead to account termination

What this rule means

Etsy can end the selling privileges of sellers who get repeat or multiple intellectual property reports. Etsy does this in appropriate circumstances and at its own discretion. It does not publish a set number of reports that triggers action. Each report on your record matters, so removing problem listings early protects your whole shop.

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

Why Etsy has this rule

Intellectual property law expects marketplaces to act against sellers who keep infringing. A single mistake is one thing. A shop that gets report after report shows a pattern, and a marketplace that allows it puts rights holders and its other sellers at risk. Etsy's policy lets it end selling privileges for sellers with repeat or multiple notices.

Because the policy says 'in appropriate circumstances' and 'at Etsy's discretion', there is no public count to aim for. Etsy does not say how many reports are too many, how long reports stay on your record, or how it weighs them. Etsy decides each case itself. The practical lesson is simple. Reports add up, and the safest approach is to fix the cause rather than manage the count.

Common mistakes

Assuming there is a safe number of reports, such as two or three, when Etsy does not publish one.
Fixing only the one listing named in a report and leaving similar listings in the shop, which can lead to the next report.
Relisting a removed item with a new title, new photos, or a small design change. Etsy can treat this as a repeat.
Treating reports from different rights holders as unrelated, when together they can show a pattern in your shop.
Ignoring Etsy's warning emails because the last listing was already deactivated.
Opening a second shop to keep selling the same designs, which can make a bad situation worse.
Buying designs, files, or supplier goods in bulk without checking the rights, then listing the whole batch.
Waiting for a report before you review the shop, when an earlier review would have removed the listings on your own terms.

Examples

AllowedAfter one report, you review every listing in your shop and remove all others that use the same kind of protected material.
AllowedYou write back to Etsy, say what you removed, and describe the checks you now do before you list a new item.
AllowedYou keep a file of licenses and receipts for every design, font, and supplier item you use.
AllowedYou replace removed items with original work that you made yourself.
Not allowedYou relist a removed licensed-character print under a new title and background.
Not allowedYou leave a dozen similar branded listings up after one was reported.
Not allowedYou open a second shop to sell the designs that Etsy removed from your first shop.
Not allowedYou ignore a warning from Etsy because only one listing was affected.

How to stay compliant

Conduct a full audit of your shop: identify every listing that uses copyrighted, trademarked, or publicity-protected content without authorization.
Proactively remove all infringing listings before additional takedown notices are filed — each notice is recorded and accumulates toward termination.
Do not attempt to relist removed items under modified titles or descriptions; Etsy tracks content across relistings.
If you received a counter-notice letter from Etsy warning about your infringement history, respond in writing through Etsy's Help system to demonstrate you are actively remedying the issue.
Review your remaining catalog against all three IP categories (trademark, copyright, publicity rights) to confirm every listing is clean before relisting anything.

Effort: high · 4-16 hours

If your suspension email cites this rule

Read the email for what Etsy actually says. Etsy's policy says it can end account privileges at any time and without advance notice, so do not count on a warning first. Note the reports it mentions, the rights holders involved, and any steps Etsy asks you to take. Do not guess at how close you are to a limit. Etsy does not publish one, so write down only what the email states.

Then go through your shop with a clear head. Look for every listing that uses protected content, including trademarks, copyrighted characters, and real people's names or faces. Remove them, and avoid relisting anything under a new title. If Etsy gives you a way to respond, say what you found, what you removed, and what you now check before listing. Keep it factual and short. Etsy makes the final decision and does not promise reinstatement, so write the reply to show that you understand the problem, not to argue it away.

Suspended over this rule?

Generate a complete, ready-to-submit Etsy appeal for this exact violation.

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Common questions

How many reports does it take for Etsy to end my shop?

Etsy does not publish a number. Its policy says it ends selling privileges for repeat or multiple notices in appropriate circumstances and at its discretion. Treat every report as serious.

Do reports ever drop off my record?

Etsy does not say how long reports count or whether they expire. Do not plan around a clock. Remove problem listings and keep your shop clean.

What counts as repeat behavior?

Relisting a removed item under a changed title or description is a clear example. Several reports for similar content, or from different rights holders, can also show a pattern.

Can I open a new shop if Etsy ends my account?

No. Etsy's policy says that if it believes a member opened a new shop after termination, it can refuse all services to that member, and this applies to accounts it believes are associated with that member. If you believe the action was a mistake, use the response options Etsy gives you in its email.

What should I do after my first report?

Review the whole shop, not only the named listing. Remove anything else that uses protected content, and write down what you changed. Acting early is your best protection against further reports.