What should I do if another Etsy shop copies my digital download listing design?

Hi! If you’re confident it’s your original artwork being copied, the lowest-risk/effective move on Etsy is usually don’t contact the other shop first—instead document everything and file an intellectual property (copyright/DMCA) report through Etsy for the specific listing(s). Reaching out directly often just tips them off to hide/alter the files, argue with you, or retaliate, and it rarely gets a real copycat to stop.

A simple, safer way to handle it:

• Save evidence first: screenshots of their listing, your listing, and close-ups of the copied elements; note dates; keep your original working files (Procreate/PSD layers, sketches, export history, etc.).
• Submit an Etsy IP infringement report (copyright/DMCA) for the listing (and include multiple listing IDs if there are several). If it’s truly your art/design, this is the process Etsy is set up to act on.
• Be prepared for a counter-notice: on Etsy, copyright takedowns can be countered. If they counter, Etsy may restore the listing unless you escalate outside Etsy (this is part of the DMCA process, not you “doing it wrong”). Also note that IP reports can require you to provide real contact info that may be shared with the other party as part of the legal notice process—so only file if you’re reporting in good faith and you’re comfortable with that risk.

On the AI angle: Etsy’s rules require sellers to disclose AI use in the listing description when it’s created with AI, but AI/non-disclosure by itself isn’t the strongest lever compared to a clear copyright claim. If you believe they’re violating Etsy’s AI disclosure requirement, you can also report the item/shop for a policy issue—but if your main problem is “they copied my art,” the IP route is typically the one that leads to actual removal.

About retaliation/negative reviews: they generally can’t leave you a review unless they buy from you, so most of the “review retaliation” fear only becomes real if they purchase. Not engaging directly (no messages) usually lowers the odds of them doing that, and it prevents your messages from turning into screenshots/drama.

If you want, tell me what kind of digital download it is (printable wall art, invites, templates, etc.) and whether their file looks traced/recreated vs. literally the same art with edits—I can help you choose the cleanest claim type and what wording/evidence tends to work best.