Etsy Rules & The Dread of Permanent Suspension

Yikes! The thought of being permanently banned on Etsy can send shivers down your spine.

When you open a store, it's common for Etsy to suspend your account. No need to stress—simply reach out to Etsy support, and they will assist in reopening your store. This security procedure aims to verify your authenticity as a real person, so there's no need to worry.

I've personally experienced this process before, and it was resolved within 2-3 days.

How to avoid the permanent ban?

• Don't copy others.
• Run your business in a country that Etsy permits
• Don't use trademarked words (we'll discuss this further in detail)

While these are most frequently encountered reasons, there are other potential factors for account suspension. If you want to check them all, follow this link: Etsy Policy.

Trademark Infringement

Now let's take a deep dive into the world of Copyright and Intellectual Property (CP and IP) because it's crucial to have a solid understanding of these rules.

Let me give you an example. In the Notion niche, many people have made products based on a book or the content of a famous person. Take, for instance, the book "GTD" (Getting Things Done). You'll find many products on Etsy that incorporate the phrase "Getting Things Done" in their title. However, this particular phrase was trademarked by David Allen and his lawyer back in 2001, and the trademark is still active today.

What does it mean exactly? If you sell a product in the same “Good and Services” category, you cannot use it in your titles or mockups unless you have their permission.

Be careful…

Personal experience

I got a trademark infringement on Etsy for using the word “Polaroid: in my listing title. I didn't realize it was a protected term associated with a specific company. Fortunately, my product was only deactivated as a result, but it could have escalated further. The trademark owner may choose to take legal action, which can result in costly legal battles.