Can I file a copyright claim on Etsy for one infringing variation in a multi-design listing?

Hi! Yes—you can absolutely report copyright infringement even if it’s only one variation inside a multi-design Etsy listing, but in practice Etsy usually works at the listing level (because variations don’t have their own separate listing URLs). So you can file a report and clearly specify exactly which variation/option is infringing, understanding that Etsy may disable/remove the whole listing rather than just one option.

To make it crystal-clear for Etsy, document it like this:

• Capture proof with the variation selected: Open the competitor’s listing, select the specific infringing variation from the dropdown/buttons, and take screenshots that show:
  • the listing title and shop name,
  • the variation name/value you selected (e.g., “Design: Rose Skull #4”),
  • the preview image shown for that selection (if it changes),
  • the personalization text box (if they use it to deliver the design) and any text that identifies the infringing design.
• Screenshot the listing photos too: If your design appears in the main photo carousel, grab screenshots of the exact image(s) where your work appears.
• Save the listing info: Note the listing URL and the date/time you captured everything. If the listing has SKUs shown anywhere (sometimes sellers expose them in images or descriptions), note that too.

When you submit your report in Etsy’s Reporting Portal, use the listing URL as the “infringing material location,” and in your explanation be very specific, for example: “Only the variation labeled ‘_____’ (and shown in screenshot #2) infringes my copyrighted artwork. Other variations may be original.”

A couple practical tips:

• If the seller agreed to remove it but didn’t, you can send one last message with a firm deadline (e.g., “Please remove the ‘X’ variation by tomorrow”)—but you don’t have to wait if it’s still for sale.
• Don’t buy it “to prove it.” Your screenshots and your original creation files are usually the most straightforward documentation.

One important heads-up: a copyright report is a legal process (DMCA-style), and the other seller may get your contact info as part of that process, so use business contact details where possible and only file if you’re confident it’s your original, copyrightable work.

If you tell me whether it’s a digital download or a physical item with printed designs, I can suggest the best exact screenshots to take (because variations show up a little differently depending on the listing type).