What should I do if my Etsy design is being copied and sold on Temu?

Hi! I’m sorry you’re dealing with this — the best move is to (1) save solid evidence, (2) file an IP infringement report with Temu through their IP reporting flow (or “Report this item” on the product page), and (3) tighten how you display/ deliver your design assets on Etsy so fewer “clean” files/images are easy to scrape.

First, do this today (before anything changes)

• Document everything: screenshot the Temu listing (photos, title, price, description), the seller name, and the full page showing the URL bar; also save the page as a PDF if you can. If your exact images are used, grab close-up screenshots showing the match.
• Gather proof you’re the creator: original working files, dated exports, layered files, drafts, Procreate history/timelapses, order of creation, and your Etsy listing publish date. (You don’t need to “apply” for copyright to exist, but having clear proof helps a lot.)
• Don’t message the Temu seller. It rarely helps and can complicate things.

How to report it on Temu (the practical path)

1. Use Temu’s Intellectual Property Infringement Report Portal (IP Portal) as the rights owner (or authorized representative). You’ll typically be asked for:
   • Your contact info as the rights holder
   • The specific Temu listing links/IDs
   • The type of claim (copyright / trademark / etc.)
   • Proof of rights + explanation of what’s being copied (images, artwork, text, etc.)
2. If you’re not ready to file as a rights owner, you can also use “Report this item” on the Temu listing (often under “Copyright and Trademark”), but formal IP portal claims usually carry more weight than general user reports.

If it’s “similar” but not identical

• If they copied your exact artwork, exact listing photos, or your exact listing text, that’s usually the clearest basis for a report.
• If it’s only “inspired by” and not substantially the same, it can be harder to enforce. Still, report it if you believe it’s a copy — just be very specific about what elements are original and what matches.

What to change in your Etsy listings to reduce copying (it won’t stop it 100%, but it helps)

• Avoid uploading or showing “clean” high-res art previews. Use lifestyle photos/mockups and scaled previews where possible.
• Branding in the image (not a big watermark overlay): Etsy has noted that heavy watermark overlays can reduce eligibility for some Etsy featuring/placements, so a safer approach is subtle built-in branding (like your logo on packaging, a consistent photo style, or a small signature within the design preview).
• For digital products: consider switching from instant download to a made-to-order digital delivery when it makes sense for your workflow (so you’re not uploading the final file into the listing). This doesn’t prevent all theft, but it can reduce automated scraping of the exact deliverable file.
• Show only what a buyer needs to evaluate: fewer close-up, full-frame, perfectly flat previews of the full design.

Extra protection that’s worth considering (especially if this is a top seller)

• Register your brand name/logo as a trademark if you’re building a long-term brand (this helps with impersonation and brand name misuse).
• Copyright registration (optional but helpful in the U.S. if you ever need stronger enforcement). Not required to submit many platform takedowns, but it can strengthen escalations.

What to say to the customer (so you don’t lose them)
Keep it simple and professional: thank them for the heads-up, explain you can’t verify that Temu listing is legitimate/authorized, and remind them what they get buying from you (quality control, correct sizing/files, support, revisions if you offer them, clear licensing/usage terms). Avoid sounding accusatory; focus on value and buyer protection.

One last note: sadly, you usually can’t “policy your way out” of this on Etsy — your best defense is fast takedowns + limiting clean previews + consistent monitoring (periodic reverse image searches on your bestsellers). If you tell me whether you sell physical items, digital downloads, or POD, I can suggest the best “anti-scrape” listing setup for your exact product type.