What to Do When You Find Your Artwork Being Used Without Permission

I opened Pinterest and there it was. My pattern, on a product, sold by a brand I had never licensed with.

My stomach dropped. I zoomed in to make sure. I started drafting a message in my head before I’d even closed the app, and underneath it all was the question I didn’t want to say out loud: How long had it been up, and how many people had already bought it?

It turned out my art wasn’t stolen. The brand was a subsidiary of a company I had licensed with, so the use was covered.

Still, that first gut punch was real, and I know some of you have felt it too, scrolling Etsy and seeing your art, your colors, your hours of work, on someone else’s listing.

So today I want to give you a plan for that moment, so you can respond with clarity instead of panic.

1. Pause and Check Before You React

Before you send anything, make sure it’s actually unauthorized.

For example, search your contracts for the brand name, the parent company, and any affiliate or sublicensing clause. Then email your licensing contact to ask.

This matters because only the copyright owner or an authorized agent can submit a copyright infringement report, and knowingly submitting false infringement notices can create liability under the DMCA.

2. Document Everything

Screenshot the listing, the photos, the description, any “I’m the designer” claim, and the reviews, since reviews can show that the work is being sold.

Save the URL and shop name, make a screen recording if you can, then pull your original files and the earliest date you posted the work.

3. Reach Out Calmly

Send a short, factual message and write it as if the platform might read it.

For example:

“Hi, this listing uses my original artwork, which I created and first shared on [date]. I haven’t authorized this use. Please remove it within 24 hours. Thank you.”

4. File the Report on the Platform

This is often the most effective route. The goal is getting it removed, not winning an argument.

On Etsy: Use the Reporting Portal if you expect multiple reports, or the standalone IP Infringement Report Form for a one-off case. Etsy reviews reports and may remove listings that are the subject of valid infringement notices.

On Pinterest: Open the Pin, tap the three dots, and choose Report Pin. Select the intellectual property or copyright infringement option and follow the steps to submit your report.

5. Escalate if It Keeps Happening

Report every listing, keep your message saved as a template, and consider bringing in a lawyer for a cease-and-desist letter if the copying is widespread.

6. Protect Your Work Going Forward

Share low-resolution files, don’t show the actual repeat tile, and show your patterns on mockups instead of flat artwork.

Keep a dated archive of every release and always use contracts for licensing.

I don’t register every design, since your original artwork is generally protected by copyright the moment you create it.

For a design that becomes very lucrative, registration is worth considering. In the United States, timing matters because registration within three months of publication or before infringement begins can affect eligibility for statutory damages and attorney’s fees.

One More Thing

If you see your work copied, it doesn’t mean you should stop sharing. It means your work connects with people, enough that someone wanted it. Keep showing up, keep sharing, and protect what’s yours along the way.

The world needs your story, a little messy, a lot beautiful.