Teespring account copying my Merch best sellers in massive numbers

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Mike E. asked Apr 25, '17

Teespring account copying my Merch best sellers in massive numbers

So I discovered today that a Teespring/Amazon integrated seller has copied (I'm talking pixel for pixel) some of my BEST selling MBA designs. I'm in the process of putting many of my top sellers on Teespring hoodies and so when I came to these sets, I was stunned to witness that they are ALREADY there. Does anyone have a recommendation on appropriate first steps? Notify Amazon or Teespring? I see that these copycats are already generating sales with their hoodies based on my t-shirt designs. Some have great ranks and are making good money. I need to get them shut down. They're no doubt screwing over many of you as well. Highly unlikely that I'm the only person that this account has targeted to rip off.

merch by amazon

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Answer 1 · 2017-04-25T21:50:45Z

Kristi answered Apr 25, '17

Yes you are not alone. Report them to BOTH Amazon and Teespring. Amazon will remove them quicker than Teespring will react, but if you report to both, you will get the listings pulled and hopefully get their account banned.

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Mike E. commented · Apr 25, 2017 at 10:30 PM

Thank you!

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Answer 2 · 2018-05-15T13:57:11Z

Juna Duncan answered May 15, '18

I just noticed this too. Is there a way Amazon can get involved? Are you saying that I can report a copycat on TeeSpring to Amazon?

I really think Amazon should shutdown TeeSpring or have an easy way for Merch sellers to say we don't sell on TeeSpring protect our designs. There are so many copycats over there it's ridiculous. Think about all the money they are taking from Amazon. Amazon accounts for about 75% of each sale on Merch. Times that by how many of my designs are stolen on TeeSpring and then times that by how many Merch sellers like myself have things stolen. It is a huge problem for MBA sellers and for Amazon too.

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Answer 3 · 2018-05-16T00:21:50Z

TEES answered May 16, '18

Did they take exact design or just the concept? Do you have a registration to fight it? If it's just copy and you used fonts they can also use... then you have no battle. If you used clipart so can they. If all original... you have a decent fight. If registered (C) you have great fight and will win.

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newuser-01215e6f-543a-47dd-8c7e-780278dbefa3 commented · May 16, 2018 at 09:29 AM

You can fight these criminal thief bastards even without registration and also when they put up derivative designs

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TEES commented · May 16, 2018 at 10:12 AM

I use my registrations just because I register them. It's more monetary infringement and they come down very-very quickly without question because it's with the library of congress and legal teams on both ends know its power. The other way without it ...they may come down and buy then go back up. Derivative doesn't mean using a free font like another has usage to and saying they infringed unless you either have it trademarked (the phrase or saying) Or changed the look of the font to call yours. The font you got and use is anyone's game unless you design your own font or recreate it somehow in your style. Or license it exclusively. Same with clipart ...unless you drew it yourself. i have copyrighted over 10,000 designs with over 90 compiled and single registrations. It's a wise move. Been doing this for 25 years. I have trademarked several wordings, titles and phrases since 1995 and my copyrights over power issues if anyone takes on POD. I have settled legal battles quickly with copycats just because of my registrations. If I didn't have any ...then I would be on here complaining about copycats and I don't. Registering is your best bet. I'm not saying your design isn't yours unless you register but it's a strong solution to protect it and its cheap to do it. If you have never copyrighted then try copyrighting a word design they may not give you a registration at all (like I said above) it has to be all original to them. When they don't register your design because of it just being text is because others have the right too. Unless it's your own font for copyright .... and or also a trademark is part of your IP power to help if just wording. My advise. Don't have to take it. If derivatives were always a real deal then all those parody POD sites taking marvel and Star Wars and changing them up .., would be out of business being sued by the big boys.

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Answer 4 · 2018-05-16T14:41:54Z

newuser-851b94e1-a3d8-4797-8ff2-089dd87361b6 answered May 16, '18

Regarding the IP/copycat issues, Teespring allows designs with the same idea or concept to be sold. However, clear copying of other seller's content is not allowed. In a January 2018 bulletin, TS states that another seller can report an infringement on their "legally registered artwork". So, to file a claim it now means that you need a copyright or registration claim number....without this there seems to be little if any recourse. See this article for more info: https://community.teespring.com/blog/teespring-ip-update-jan-2018/.

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TEES commented · May 16, 2018 at 10:20 PM

I've been saying this all along. Thanks

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Answer 5 · 2018-05-16T18:15:10Z

newuser-a8c92a60-a89b-40ec-afda-4411dbd56eb8 answered May 16, '18

I keep reporting my same designs over and over again to both teespring and teechip. They get taken down, then a few days later, there they are again! I do not have time to keep on top of all this, and so I've lost all motivation to upload my designs to Merch by Amazon just so someone else can profit from them. : ( No idea the solution, but it sucks.

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newuser-01215e6f-543a-47dd-8c7e-780278dbefa3 commented · May 17, 2018 at 06:19 AM

Same. It makes no sense to upload there anymore.

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newuser-851b94e1-a3d8-4797-8ff2-089dd87361b6 commented · May 17, 2018 at 03:06 PM

Someone in a FB group was recently commenting that she'd spent days trying to get multiple copies of her own original shirt design taken down from copycats on Teespring only to have her own listing removed instead and the copycats are still up....that's frustrating.

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Answer 6 · 2018-05-16T23:30:00Z

newuser-851b94e1-a3d8-4797-8ff2-089dd87361b6 answered May 16, '18

It appears that any seller can stil file an IP infringement claim with TS for outright copies of their work (if they're not selling on TS's site) but good luck in trying to get it enforced without a copyright or registration claim number for the artwork in question.

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TEES commented · May 17, 2018 at 06:53 PM

Yes so true that's why I have registrations. I have been telling everyone here this for so long.

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Answer 7 · 2018-05-16T23:54:45Z

Butterfly answered May 16, '18

Fill out the copyright form at Teespring. Include your evidence which can be screenshots or link to your Amazon shirt which shows the date. I have filed several at TS as recently as last week and all were taken down. Fyi: you have to fill out the form for each individual claim.

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Answer 8 · 2018-05-24T17:58:10Z

newuser-d5228d09-9f37-40e1-a8e3-27962bd2a8a6 answered May 24, '18

It's easy to get the copycats removed BUT its time consuming and frustrating if they have taken a lot of your designs the way they have done mine. On teespring scroll down and under the timer you will see repoort this campaign. There you have to fill out a form. I just copy the url from amazon showing my shirt and paste it in several slots. I do let them know its an exact replica of my design. They email you back within hours and say they have removed the design.

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