Babalon Jones Posted March 4, 2020 Posted March 4, 2020 Looks like my deck Tabula Mundi is being pirated on Etsy, by a shop in the Ukraine called "VikingRunesPower". They lifted pictures and text direct from my site, and are reprinting it supposedly in the Netherlands (though they are in Ukraine). My cards are printed in the USA. I see lots of other decks being sold on their site, clearly against Etsy's rules that items must be handmade. Some of the other decks I see on there include: Animals Divine Steampunk Deviant Moon Wildwood Gilded Reverie Prisma Visions Universal Fantasy Masonic If you know any of these deck creators, let them know so they can file a copyright infringement with Etsy. (There's a simple online form for that) But anyone can report a shop or a listing as being "not handmade" by the shop listing the item - which includes not having the rights to make it. Please take a moment to report this shop and get a pirate taken down. If I'm allowed to post links to how to report, etc I will. It's simple. You can report an item from the bottom of the listing, or better yet, report the shop itself by going to the shop homepage, and looking for the link "report this shop" on the lower left.
Babalon Jones Posted March 4, 2020 Author Posted March 4, 2020 To add insult to injury, they charge more for the deck than I do! And they print it on shoddy GLOSSY cardboard - the horrors!
gregory Posted March 4, 2020 Posted March 4, 2020 They don't have to be handmade any more, I am told. Quote handmade or vintage items and craft supplies But I have reported them anyway, and said I want them shut down, but cannot file a copyright complaint as the decks aren't mine - but am happy to list them if they wish.
Czenzi Posted March 4, 2020 Posted March 4, 2020 Etsy has really loosened its policies on what is "handmade." Even so, this is a copyright issue, so I think it will be pretty easy to stop them. Sorry to hear it and will report.
Babalon Jones Posted March 4, 2020 Author Posted March 4, 2020 Thank you for reporting! Seriously, I think it will help it move along faster. Etsy's terms and conditions still state that it needs to be "handmade or vintage" - that is even on the dropdown when you report...but more importantly, the terms say one must own the rights to any work sold, and they don't. Thank you for reporting! It hopefully will get them shut down faster. I filed a copyright complaint for my deck, but the other creators will have to do so for their own. For anyone who would like to help, here is how to report, for both regular people and the deck copyright holders: Here is a link on "How to report an item or a shop" to Etsy, this method anyone can use to either report the shop itself, or specific items:https://help.etsy.com/hc/en-us/articles ... em-or-Shop Anyone can report an item or shop, you are given a list If you are one of the deck creators being pirated, there is also an online infringement reporting form:https://www.etsy.com/legal/ip/report That one is just for the owner of the work, if that applies to you. But anyone can report the shop for violating Etsy's terms, by using the first link. If enough people report them, they will likely get taken down quicker. It's easy to find the shop - just search for them by name VikingRunesPower or search for Tabula Mundi and you will find the listing where they are selling reprinted decks of that and you can see all the other Tarot items they are pirating - as well as selling a bunch of crappy "viking" jewelry. For anyone who wants a REAL copy of the deck, on nice MATTE cardstock with holograms, in a high end box - come direct to the artist. Don't settle for a lousy printing on GLOSSY CARDBOARD in a crap box they won't even show. It's too bad pirates ruin things for everyone. I'd hoped to surprise people with a nice new printing later this year but looks like I have to move that up. A new full size color 78 card edition will be available again VERY soon on my site, the pocket size are up now. These are real signed decks with all the handmade artistic touches, not something someone scanned and uploaded somewhere. Anyway thanks to anyone who will support ALL of the artists they are scamming by reporting them, as there are quite a few other decks on there, not just mine.
geoxena Posted March 4, 2020 Posted March 4, 2020 (edited) 1 hour ago, Babalon Jones said: If I'm allowed to post links to how to report, etc I will. It's simple. You can report an item from the bottom of the listing, or better yet, report the shop itself by going to the shop homepage, and looking for the link "report this shop" on the lower left. Would you post a link to your own page where you sell the deck, so it can be furnished as some evidence that you are the originator? Also, perhaps you should put a disclaimer on your site to state that if your deck appears to be sold on Etsy, or anywhere else, it is a pirated deck of poor quality that you did not authorize. Edited March 4, 2020 by geoxena
katrinka Posted March 4, 2020 Posted March 4, 2020 Thanks for this. Ugh, it's like picking up a rock and finding vermin underneath. Reported. And I messaged Ciro Marchetti and Patrick Valenza on facebook. Caitlin Matthews as well - she did the book for the Steampunk and probably has a way to get in touch with the artist. If any of you have a way to contact the other deck creators, please do so!
Babalon Jones Posted March 4, 2020 Author Posted March 4, 2020 1 hour ago, geoxena said: Would you post a link to your own page where you sell the deck, so it can be furnished as some evidence that you are the originator? Also, perhaps you should put a disclaimer on your site to state that if your deck appears to be sold on Etsy, or anywhere else, it is a pirated deck of poor quality that you did not authorize. I'm not sure if that's allowed (me posting the sites where I sell my stuff) - or even what it would prove. Clearly this Etsy shop does not own the right to publish the decks they are listing - mine and 25 other deck creators, some of whom I know contact info for. I contacted one already but she appears to be away. But it is a great idea to put a notice on my sites, that if the deck is sold anywhere else it it likely unauthorized - and probably poor quality. Thanks for the idea.
Babalon Jones Posted March 5, 2020 Author Posted March 5, 2020 (edited) EDIT to say: disregard everything I said in this post originally about Etsy responding to my claim. As soon as the thieving site contradicted my very well substantiated and proven case against them - Etsy said the onus is on me to get a court order. So, they are not trustworthy, as I implied. I actually feel bad about editing this post. I was so happy to report that Etsy responded diligently originally. What a let down. For the record, I originally was telling you all Etsy responded appropriately - but they didn't. It's still worth reporting on these people, as multiple complaints supposedly influence Etsy. Edited March 6, 2020 by Babalon Jones
Rose Lalonde Posted March 5, 2020 Posted March 5, 2020 I sent a message to the Prisma Visions creator.
bastetly Posted March 5, 2020 Posted March 5, 2020 Reported the shop and made basic report on the Gotic (sic) Tarot by Vargas. "She" (Iryna) is calling the decks she sells "replicas". It's piracy. And pricey as well!
Babalon Jones Posted March 5, 2020 Author Posted March 5, 2020 I take back everything nice I said about Etsy. I have to get a court order to have them take it down - just because the thieves said they disagree! It's just so wrong. Never shopping on Etsy again! They are allowing this! Purposely probably, since they get a cut. Now I have to get my lawyer involved.
Babalon Jones Posted March 5, 2020 Author Posted March 5, 2020 Etsy's page on it does say this - so keep reporting them! 4. Repeat Infringement Etsy terminates selling privileges of members who are subject to repeat or multiple notices of intellectual property infringement in appropriate circumstances and at Etsy’s discretion. If we believe a member has attempted to open a new shop after termination of the initial account, we reserve the right to refuse all services to that member. These actions apply to any accounts we believe are associated with or operated by the affected member. Per our Terms of Use, Etsy reserves the right to terminate account privileges at any time, for any reason, and without advance notice.
katrinka Posted March 5, 2020 Posted March 5, 2020 Maybe we can get the big publishers to bring the hammer down. I just mailed US Games and told them that the Gilded Reverie (both the regular and Expanded Edition) and the Deviant Moon Borderless were being pirated there, and sent them a link to the Tarot cards/Oracle cards page of that damn Etsy store. If anyone else would like to contact them, use this form: https://www.usgames.com/contacts I'm also seeing decks from Llewellyn and Lo Scarabeo, and will be contacting them as well. I think if enough of us do this, we can get their attention.
Babalon Jones Posted March 5, 2020 Author Posted March 5, 2020 Wow you are awesome! I really think that is our best hope, to get the "repeat infringement" clause evoked, and who better to add muscle than the publishers. They have the power - especially if combined with the power of us, the people! Maybe I'm being an idealist, but hey, it's that or a pessimist LOL. I really hope we can all band together. Surely it's possible. Etsy can ignore me. It's a monolithic company. When I file a court order, the most they will do is take my deck off - but even if I can accomplish that they leave the others up. But if we all filed a complaint and seemed to be banding together it might get attention. It would be so great to send a message as a community that this isn't tolerated.
katrinka Posted March 5, 2020 Posted March 5, 2020 Pessimist? I'm a total cynic. But I do know that corporations don't like people messing with their bottom line, and I've seen behemoths like Disney and Coca Cola go after people for much less. So I'm hopeful. Let's push this!
Babalon Jones Posted March 5, 2020 Author Posted March 5, 2020 Cynics unite! LOL People do have some ability to fight corporations but only if we come at it in multiples. Bad public perception moves mountains. I'm going to fight. In whatever way I can, however small.
Rose Lalonde Posted March 5, 2020 Posted March 5, 2020 (edited) I reported that seller yesterday. I was wondering if any were US Games decks, because I can't imagine they wouldn't have their lawyers take action. I'm glad @Katrinka wrote to them. Edited March 5, 2020 by Rose Lalonde
Babalon Jones Posted March 6, 2020 Author Posted March 6, 2020 Thanks for reporting them. I think it's so important we don't give up as a society on issues of corporate unfairness. Etsy has the power to take them down, and I gave them the info they need to know beyond a reasonable doubt it is the right decision, and that I am the rightful copyright holder and the person that did all the work. I so hope other creators report them officially and invoke Etsy's repeat offender clause. I know if they do, it will at least take this one store down. If multiple people report to Etsy and multiple people write to USG and they file complaints too, it definitely helps, as it makes more of an impact. And it is such a quick action to take. It literally took me five minutes - the big corp creators could do it too. It does not take a lawyer to fill out the infringement form. It also only takes a second for people to report the shop to Etsy and tell them what we think. Anyone can do that. It adds up if we all keep telling them these creators are pirates. We think small things don't make a difference, but they do.
Grace Posted March 6, 2020 Posted March 6, 2020 5 hours ago, Babalon Jones said: I take back everything nice I said about Etsy. I have to get a court order to have them take it down - just because the thieves said they disagree! I am floored. Do they not realise that technically, you may be able to go after Etsy also as now they are AWARE of the issue, and they haven't deleted the listing. I'm not a lawyer (just play one on tv, lol), but if I owned a bricks and mortar store, and I knowingly sold items unlawfully - SURELY that could get me in trouble.
Rose Lalonde Posted March 6, 2020 Posted March 6, 2020 (edited) Not as important as Etsy, but intending to go to Etsy, I happened across their facebook that doesn't sell but does advertises sales for the "replica" (aka "stolen") reprint decks on Etsy. I reported them to fb. Reporting is quick when you select the 3 dots under the top banner (on my desktop). Edited March 6, 2020 by Rose Lalonde
Wheel of Fantastic Posted March 6, 2020 Posted March 6, 2020 18 hours ago, Rose Lalonde said: I reported that seller yesterday. I was wondering if any were US Games decks, because I can't imagine they wouldn't have their lawyers take action. I'm glad @Katrinka wrote to them. When it comes to tarot deck piracy, the cat has long been out of the bag. Pirate copies of many decks, including US Games decks, can be found all over Amazon UK and eBay. At this point trying to stop the pirates is like trying to carry water with a sieve. The fact that we have so many pirated tarot decks just goes to show that tarot is a victim of its own success. Tarot has become mainstream and business is booming - the pirates see the opportunity.
katrinka Posted March 6, 2020 Posted March 6, 2020 It's nothing new at Etsy, either. I remember cases of people scanning decks and selling the scans for people to have printed up themselves. They've let it go for so long that the thieves are getting bold, as we see with this woman and her cardboard decks that cost more than the legit ones, and her denial that she's doing anything wrong.
joy Posted March 6, 2020 Posted March 6, 2020 It seems only the Masonic is still up there, the shop owner seems to have removed the rest....
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