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Someone is going to copy your designs sooner or later…
That’s just how it is when you’re trying to sell artwork and other things you make.
There are a lot of dishonest people who want to make money without putting in all the work you have. Someone might reproduce a few of your handmade items without asking for permission and try to pass them off as their own. It’s a real problem when you’re trying to grow your handmade business, especially if their knockoffs are priced lower than your items.
I’m sorry if this has happened to you!
Here are a few steps you can take if someone copies your designs.
1. Write an Email to the Offender Explaining the Situation
The first thing you should try is to politely ask the offender to stop selling the designs that were copied from you. A simple email will do. However, first ask yourself if what the person is doing is truly illegal. Did they infringe on your copyright or trademark or are they simply creating similar products? Make sure the person is truly doing something wrong before you try to stop them.
Artwork Example
- Not Legal: Copy/pasting your artwork and selling it.
- Legal: Creating artwork with a similar theme and design.
Sewing Pattern Example
- Not Legal: Using your pattern to create doll clothes to sell without your permission
- Legal: Creating doll clothes that look similar to your patterns.
Be careful not to be rude in your email because that’s a quick way to get ignored. Some people truly do not understand copyright laws and do not realize they are doing anything wrong. Sometimes people will remove the designs they have copied if you ask them nicely.
Resource: Can I Make and Sell Products from a Pattern I Did Not Create?
2. Send a Second Email to the Offender Threatening Legal Action
After you’ve sent the first email, wait a few days for a response. If nothing happens, you can try sending a second email that is a little more aggressive than the first. Make sure you point out copyright laws and threaten to take legal action. Sometimes the threat is enough to scare the offender into complying with your wishes.
Another thing you can do is leave a comment or review on the product page that states the design was copied from you. Make sure to link back to your original work for proof.
3. Report the Copyright Infringement to the Website’s Host
If you can’t find an email or contact information anywhere on the website where your designs are being sold, your next step is to contact the website’s host. You can (hopefully) find this by doing a WhoIs Lookup. Most hosting companies have policies against plagiarism and copyright infringement and can get the offending website taken down. They may even have an easy DMCA form you can fill out. Of course, the website you report typically must get several reports before any action is taken.
If the offender is using one of the many selling platforms, like Etsy, find the report shop button and file a complaint. The selling platform will look into your claims.
4. Just Forget About It
If you’ve completed steps 1-3 without success, consider just forgetting about it. I hate telling people to give up, but sometimes it is the only way to save your sanity.
Whenever you put your work on the internet, you lose control over who views it and what they do with it. This is a major problem for people who sell artwork and other digital designs. It’s easy to copy and paste designs, sell them, and never get caught. It’s also difficult to monitor if this is happening to you.
If someone copies your designs without permission, the easiest thing you can do is get mad and then get over it. Taking legal action is costly, time-consuming, and you rarely get compensated in a way you think is fair.
Instead of spending too much time trying to get someone to stop copying your designs, focus on creating better products than anyone else and work on your branding. Use your energy to stay ahead of the competition.
Have your designs ever been stolen? What did you do? Did it work? Share your experience in the comments below.
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