Last week we watched Gwenn Share with us how she believes Copyright is for Scaredy cats and lot’s of you didn’t agree. That’s fair enough we are all entitled to our own opinion. So this brings us back to what to do about a copyright issue. I would assume that 90% of Crafter’s and Artists don’t have enough spare funds to get a Lawyer or Solicitor to help with the infringement. The cost of sending a letter of notification to the offender from a Lawyer can set you back $100’s of dollars let alone actually having to take it further. 90% of the time ( by my non educated calculations) the person or company who stole your work probably doesn’t have enough money to give you a payout or reimbursement either so what’s the point of getting a lawyer and taking them to court?
So what if someone does copy your work, how should you approach it? Check out this video by Gwenn about “What to do about a Copyright infringement” .
Here’s a free template for a simple copyright infringement letter to send to someone copying your designs on Etsy. Keep in mind that you may need to customize this letter with specific details related to your situation. It’s always a good idea to consult with a legal professional for advice on copyright matters.
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State, ZIP Code]
[Your Email Address]
[Your Phone Number]
[Date]
[Recipient’s Name]
[Recipient’s Address]
[City, State, ZIP Code]
Subject: Copyright Infringement Notice
Dear [Recipient’s Name],
I am writing to address a matter of utmost importance regarding the unauthorized use and sale of my copyrighted designs on your Etsy shop, [Shop Name], under the listings titled [Listing Title(s)]. It has come to my attention that you have copied and are selling products that are substantially similar to my original creations, which are protected by copyright.
My original designs, which are listed on my Etsy shop, [Your Etsy Shop Name], can be identified as follows:
[Description of Your Original Design(s)]
[Etsy Listing URL(s) for Your Original Design(s)]
Registration Number(s) of Copyright Certificate(s) (if applicable)
The copied designs listed on your shop, [Shop Name], can be identified as follows:
[Description of Copied Design(s)]
[Etsy Listing URL(s) for Copied Design(s)]
It is my firm belief that these copied designs infringe upon my exclusive rights as the copyright holder. As such, I kindly request that you immediately cease and desist from any further sale, reproduction, distribution, or display of these infringing products.
I would like to give you the opportunity to resolve this matter amicably and promptly. In order to do so, I ask that you take the following actions:
Remove the infringing listings from your Etsy shop, [Shop Name], within [specify a reasonable timeframe, e.g., 7 days] from the date of this letter.
Provide written confirmation, within [specify a reasonable timeframe, e.g., 10 days] of the removal, that you have taken down the infringing listings.
Please understand that I take copyright infringement seriously and I am prepared to take legal action to protect my intellectual property rights if necessary. Infringement of copyright is not only a violation of intellectual property laws but also a breach of Etsy’s policies.
I hope we can resolve this matter without the need for legal action. Your immediate attention to this issue will help avoid any further complications.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to me via email at [Your Email Address] or by phone at [Your Phone Number].
I look forward to your prompt response and resolution of this matter.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Etsy Shop Name (if applicable)]
